It’s the end of an era for Microsoft and certain generations of web users — after nearly three decades of service, the company ended support for Internet Explorer on Wednesday.

While the news may not impact everyone, it could cause confusion among some Japanese businesses and government organizations that still use the browser.

Microsoft's decision to no longer send updates through Windows 10 for IE 11's desktop app is intended to encourage its users to switch to Microsoft Edge, its newer and more secure browser. The company has been reducing support for IE for years.

Browsers such as Google Chrome and Edge have become the dominant browsers globally — including in Japan. According to web traffic analysis website StatCounter, 61.11% of Japan's online users were using Google Chrome on desktop computers as of May, followed by 21.49% for Edge and 2.56% for IE.

But another survey conducted by Keyman’s Net, a tech news monitoring service, showed that 48.9% of 350 surveyed Japanese companies said they were still using IE as of March. Those firms said they used the browser when they handled business with government agencies that specifically required the use of IE, as well as when testing a new app since it must work on all browsers — including IE.

For people who wish to continue using IE, Edge offers an "IE mode." The survey showed that 10.3% of Japanese businesses use the feature.

To respond to the change, software developers such as Computer Engineering & Consulting have been receiving inquiries from government agencies, financial institutions, manufacturers and retailers, the Nikkei reported Tuesday.

“They had known about it but hadn’t gotten around to it,” a company official was quoted as saying. “This confusion will continue for a few months.”

The browser was introduced in 1995 and at one time had an overwhelming share of the market, dominating desktop browsing. By the early 2000s, its success led Microsoft to begin making updated versions that introduced GIF and JPEG image files.

But it gradually lost users due to slow display speeds and difficulties associated with the browser's unique specifications.

In addition, older versions of IE date back to before cybercrime, cyberterrorism and online extortion had reached the level seen today, and are deemed particularly vulnerable to threats.

On its website, Microsoft has disclosed flaws in IE that enable hackers to gain access to computer files through the browser if a user opens a link on a malicious website.