Project Spartan: Microsoft sheds outdated Explorer brand

Microsoft is launching a brand new browser, ditching the outdated and unpopular Internet Explorer and replacing it with an all-new version, in a bid to keep pace with the competition.

Marketing chief Chris Capossela announced the decision at Microsoft Convergence this week. The new browser will feature a new name and branding.

“We’re now researching what the new brand, or the new name, for our browser should be in Windows 10,” he said.

“We will continue to have Internet Explorer, but we’ll also have a new browser called Project Spartan, which is [only] codenamed Project Spartan. We have to name the thing.”

The new offering will be sure to integrate Microsoft’s voice search function – Cortana – and will seek to “ditch the baggage” of its old-fashioned predecessor.

It isn’t clear whether project Spartan seeks to destroy Internet Explorer, in a statement the company suggests the old browser will be there for anyone that needs or wants it.

A spokesman said: “Project Spartan is Microsoft’s next generation browser, built just for Windows 10. We will continue to make Internet Explorer available with Windows 10 for enterprises and other customers who require legacy browser support.”