Mozilla’s third-most popular Firefox web browser is getting a new search engine partner. The non-profit organization announced late Wednesday that it will be replacing Google for Yahoo as its default search engine, a move that has surprised many considering their 10-year partnership.
The change will be noticed immediately by its users because approximately 100 million searches transpire every year on its browser. The adjustment is also huge for Mozilla because its three-year deal with Google, which ends in December, was reportedly worth $1 billion. The details of the recent five-year deal between Mozilla and Firefox were not released publicly.
Furthermore, it’s an important move for Yahoo because CEO Marissa Mayer has decided to push ahead utilizing smart marketing with a focus, once again, on search. Mayer explained the search aspect is “a key growth area for us” as the multimedia company will roll out an “enhanced search experience” for Firefox users in the United States. It has been described as a fresh and immerse look combined with rich graphics and important content.
However, what may be interesting to observers that Yahoo will agree to Firefox’s Do Not Track feature, which permits users to demand websites not gather their personal information. The search results will remain powered by Microsoft as part of a 10-year agreement between the two parties, which commenced in 2010. Mayer has reportedly attempted to back out of the deal.
The new design is scheduled to be introduced in early 2015. Internationally, Baidu will be the default search engine in China, while Yandex will be the default in Russia. Of course, every Firefox adopter can change their search provider anytime they please, whether it’s Google, Wikipedia or Twitter.
“Search is a core part of the online experience for everyone, with Firefox users alone searching the Web more than 100 billion times per year globally,” said Chris Beard, Mozilla CEO, in a statement. “Our new search strategy doubles down on our commitment to make Firefox a browser for everyone, with more choice and opportunity for innovation. We are excited to partner with Yahoo to bring a new, re-imagined Yahoo search experience to Firefox users in the U.S. featuring the best of the Web, and to explore new innovative search and content experiences together.”
The partnership between Google and Mozilla has deteriorated in recent years as the search engine juggernaut’s Chrome has garnered a substantial share of the web browser market (33 percent). According to Mozilla’s latest financial report released to the general public, a search engine, ostensibly Google, accounted for as much as three-quarters of its $311 million revenue stream in addition to its donations received from users.
ZDNet‘s Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols opines that its deal is more of a desperate plea to remain relevant. He argued that both entities have been declining in recent years and this deal is meant to help one another.
“That all sounds good and well. But both Mozilla and Yahoo have been declining in recent years. This strikes me as much more a partnership of two companies in need of all the help they can get, rather than as Mayer put it, ‘an area of investment, opportunity and growth for us.'”
