Internet Explorer is being phased out, with Microsoft yesterday unveiling plans to gradually replace it with a fearsome-sounding browser codenamed Spartan.

There is no timetable for the end of Internet Explorer, which is still used by a significant minority of internet users (Adobe estimates that includes around 30 per cent of browsers in America). Once gone, it will join these other defunct internet services:

MSN Messenger

Everyone’s former favourite instant messaging service shut down for good in October 2014.