You might imagine Google’s introduction of its shiny new Chrome browser would tarnish its relationship with the upstart browser Firefox.

Not true, Google executives said Tuesday even as they trumpeted the speed and capabilities of Chrome, now available in a beta test version by download.

The search giant said it would continue to collaborate with Firefox where it makes sense.

The open-sourced Firefox has been gaining market share from Microsoft’s dominant Internet Explorer, which has 73 percent of the market. “We’ll continue to help them to that,” said Google co-founder Larry Page at a press conference.

Google’s Chrome also will work hand-in-hand with Android, the company’s software for mobile phones, which includes a browser. The two browsers share some underlying code, but have separate development teams for their user interfaces.

By Mark Boslet, Editor at Large.