Microsoft's oft-lamented browser, Internet Explorer 6, may finally be put to rest . This will make many a Web developer happy - but also Microsoft itself . Web analytics company StatCounter claims its latest global data set shows IE6 usage in the US and Europe has fallen to 4.7 percent of the market from 11.5 percent a year ago. That said, IE8 usage in the US increased to 30.5 percent in May (up from 8.5 percent a year ago) while IE7 is currently at 16.6%, so it's not all bad news for Redmond.