Every Moment Counts in Mozilla's Bid for Mobile Relevance
(January 26, 2012)
"Mozilla could soon release a beta version of its Android browser"
Mozilla announced that the Firefox 11 beta, that will employ the native Android user interface, is scheduled to be released on January 31 and the final Firefox launch will be on March 13, when will also begin the Firefox 12 beta development. With its new browser version the company is trying to gain a share in the iPhones and iPads market.
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In other words, at last quarter's pace, about 26 million iPhones and iPads were sold in six weeks.
And none of them can run Firefox. That's because Apple permits only browsers that use its built-in WebKit browser engine, and its own Safari is the dominant mobile browser worldwide. Android phone sales are also strong, though, and Mozilla's best bet for mobile influence.
For Mozilla, browsers are a means to an end. The nonprofit organization uses browsers--and other technology--to try to keep the Web open and to keep users in control of their own data while using the Internet. So by being largely sidelined in mobile browsing, Mozilla risks losing a means of influence.
