Google's Chrome overtook Mozilla Firefox in July to become Britain's second-most popular Web browser after Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Web analytics firm StatCounter said.

Chrome, launched in December 2008, took 22.1 per cent of the UK market, up from 12 per cent a year earlier. Internet Explorer's share fell to 46 per cent from 55 per cent a year ago, while Firefox fell to 21.6 per cent from 25.

Google is trying to convert its dominance in Web search into operating systems and mobile software, bringing it into direct competition with Microsoft. Chrome is used by more than 160 million users worldwide.