Mozilla plans to return to the browser market war with Firefox 57, which aims to close Google Chrome's speed gap, use some artificial intelligence, and possibly modify its funding model from its members.
You may be laughing, but you will well realize that the Mozilla Foundation is more than just one a skilled player in the browser market, and that can not be denied.
On the other hand, CNET's Stephen Shankland outlined Mozilla's overall comeback plan. The odds are daunting. Microsoft has him Internet Explorer, but turned to Edge, not accomplishing much. Google's Chrome, a browser that is constantly updated like the old one Firefox, and dominates desktop and mobile browsing. Apple's Safari doesn't have that many fans, except of the company's systems.
Add it all and you will understand Google's dominance.
StatCounter displays Chrome with a percentage greater than 54%, with Safari reaching 14% while Firefox, IE, and Edge are close to 6%. StatCounter statistics display all platforms.
As for SecNews statistics, Chrome dominates with a rate of 58,47%, followed by Firefox with 15.03%, Safari with 8.61, and Android Webview with 7.41. Microsoft browsers barely reach 2%.
We need Mozilla in the same way we need AMD.
It is a secondary supplier but it can pass certain limits to the top.
Every company in the technology industry needs a strong secondary player. Microsoft vs. Google seems to be just a power game between two giants in browsers. Apple is the third giant.
Shankland gives us food for thought:
- The Mozilla Foundation may have a problem in making people care about Firefox 57. The Mozilla Foundation is a crusader, but the masses are unlikely to matter.
- Speed is of course the big ask, but it's not clear that the Mozilla Foundation can deliver or that market share will follow. Mozilla stated that it can raise the market share of browser at 15% up to 20%.
- The Mozilla Foundation is not an ecosystem (it does not have an operating system) and this may limit its success.
Simply put, the chances for the Mozilla Foundation if needed in the game do not look so good. Let's hope it makes enough progress to stay as a counterweight to the browsers' establishment.
