According to data from NetMarketShare, Internet Explorer extended its usage share gains by another .42% in July, gaining about 1% global share since May. 

The firm says, "This is the second month in a row of global gains for Internet Explorer and the third straight month of gains for Internet Explorer 8 in the United States. The gain comes at the expense of Firefox (-.9%) and Chrome (-.08%)."

IE extended its lead as the leading browser worldwide, as it gained .98% share globally (including all versions).

IE now represents over 30% of browser usage worldwide.

"Ultimately, we know customers have a choice when it comes to the browser they use, and that choice has a lot to do with the good work that developers and our partners do to build a better Web with Internet Explorer," says Ryan Gavin, Senior Director, Internet Explorer Business and Marketing. "The protection of your security and privacy by Internet Explorer 8 continues to resonate with customers."

There’s no question the browser market is getting more competitive. Google is hoping to make some serious waves, and it may do so as it puts out a new stable version every six weeks, and gets Chrome OS-powered machines in the hands of consumers.