Why Microsoft Ended Support for Internet Explorer on Mac OS: A Detailed Historical Analysis

For a long time, it has been believed that Microsoft's decision to discontinue support for Internet Explorer on Mac OS was made in a much later date. However, the truth is quite different. This decision was actually made around April 2000 — years before Apple even considered developing its own web browser, Safari.

The Disbandment of the Mac Internet Explorer Team

I was part of the Mac Internet Explorer (Mac IE) team based in Mountain View, CA. We were all reassigned to work on a WebTV hardware project in April 2000, shortly after the release of Mac IE 5.0 with OS 9.0. This reallocation can be considered the end of the Mac IE project. The focus shifted away from browser development to other strategic initiatives.

The Final Stages of Mac IE

The Carbon port of Mac IE was completed by a skeleton crew of three engineers who worked from their homes in Texas. Occasionally, some former IE engineers were brought on to assist with certain tasks, like me who contributed scroll-wheel support when I was supposed to be working on Entourage. The task faced by this Texas-based team was not only challenging but also thankless. Once the Carbon port was deemed fit for public use, the engineers were laid off, and the project was officially canceled. It took some time before the public was officially informed about the cancellation.

Reasons Behind the Decision

Financial Considerations and Business Strategy

One of the main reasons for discontinuing Mac Internet Explorer was the financial impracticality of developing a free browser. Browser-makers have since learned to generate significant profits through search-engine referrer deals, but this was not the case back in 2000. At that time, browser writing was primarily a zero-revenue business. Mac IE had been moved from the strategic Mac IPU (Internet Product Unit) to the Mac BU (Business Unit), which was solely focused on selling Mac Office in large volumes.

Legal and Competitive Issues

Furthermore, Microsoft faced intense scrutiny from the Justice Department concerning the Netscape/Internet Explorer (IE) war. The anti-trust issues from being in the free browser business were becoming increasingly problematic. As a result, the Windows IE team was temporarily disbanded, which effectively sidelined the Mac IE project.

Conclusion

The decision to discontinue support for Mac Internet Explorer was a combination of financial practicality and legal concerns. While the exact details of the end of the project were somewhat delayed, the decision was primarily made in 2000 due to a shift in business strategy and legal challenges faced by Microsoft.

This historical analysis not only provides insight into the technical and business reasons for ending Mac IE support but also highlights the broader context of browser development and the competitive landscape of the early 2000s. As we look back, it's clear that Microsoft's decision was a pivotal moment in the evolution of web technologies and browser support on Apple's platform.