NetApplications reports that the popular free 'Firefox' website browser managed to reach a 9.57% market share during December 2005, tantalizingly close to the magic 10% mark. Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) subsequently moved from 86 to 85%.

However it's easy to forget that Firefox and IE aren't the only browsers around, with several others occupying the last 5%. Mac-based 'Safari' moved up to 3.07%, Opera made a tiny gain to 0.55%, while Netscape dropped slightly and hit 1.24%.

Despite all the hoopla, Firefox is still a long way from achieving its target of 25% and Microsoft will soon be breathing down their necks come IE7's release.