Microsoft is working on a new web browser - codenamed Spartan - to eventually replace Internet Explorer, according to a report from ZDNet.

Spartan will be previewed on Windows 10 next year, alongside Internet Explorer. Microsoft wants the transition from the web browser to be smooth across all platforms.

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Internet Explorer has lost a lot of ground in the past few years, dropping from 90 percent to 58 percent web browser usage, and on mobile it sinks to 2 percent.

Adding a new web browser will hopefully remove the poor reputation Internet Explorer has gathered over the years, and also offer an interesting mobile experience.

Microsoft will focus on making Spartan lightweight and cross-platform, meaning it could be available on iOS and Android. Windows 10 will reportedly replace all other Microsoft platforms, meaning Spartan will be available on phone, tablet and PC.

The report did not give any real assessment of the new features Spartan will offer, but the Metro UI design should be prominent on the new web browser, to fit with Windows 10.

For web developers, Spartan will reportedly use the same rendering engine as Internet Explorer, meaning Microsoft is still not keen on open standards.

It will be hard for a new web browser to win over mobile and PC, especially when most Android and iOS users stick to the default mobile web browser installed.

However, Microsoft has shown it wants to modernize, adding Office for free on iPhone and Android, updating OneDrive and making a new Powerpoint application called Sway for mobile first users in 2014.

Microsoft will most likely debut Spartan on January 21, at the Windows 10 consumer launch event. 

Tagsinternet explorer, Spartan, Web browser, mobile