Internet Explorer for Macintosh operating system

Does anyone know that Internet Explorer, a proprietary web browser developed by Microsoft, was the default browser on Mac OS before it was replaced by Apple's own Safari web browser in 2003. Also that the first version of Internet Explorer for the Macintosh operating system was a beta version of Internet Explorer 2.0 for Macintosh, released on January 23, 1996 as a free download from Microsoft's website.

Then why did Microsoft stopped making the Internet Explorer for the Macintosh operating system?

May be because Microsoft felt that customers were better served by using Apple's browser (Safari) and also that Microsoft didn't had the access to the Macintosh operating system that it would need to compete.

Microsoft discontinued support for the product on December 31, 2005 because the browser was not included in default installation of Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger" which was released on April 29, 2005.