Mozilla Not Worried About Google Browser
In response to today’s news that Google is releasing its own browser, code-named Chrome, I decide to call John Lilly, CEO of Mozilla Corp., the folks behind the fast-growing Firefox browser. My intention was to find out what Lilly thought about this development, especially since Mozilla has been viewed as close personal partner of Google’s.
The open-source browser maker depends heavily on a lucrative financial deal it has signed with the search company. The pair recently renewed the deal to last through 2011. Was Lilly worried about yet another browser in the market?
After all, the emergence of Linux has had an equally deflationary impact on the UNIX market. Can a Google browser, promoted on Google homepage and pushed through Google’s mobile OS, become a sticky wicket for Mozilla Firefox?
“We collaborate with them on a bunch of things and we have a financial relationship,” Lilly says. “So there is another browser and that makes for a more competitive world. Of course we would have to compete.”
Given that Microsoft still controls about 72 percent of the browser market, Google can’t afford to leave that business to chance. Web is its business, and the browser is a necessary weapon for the company. “It is not surprising that they are doing a browser. Google does many things (servers, energy) that touch their business,” he said. “They feel that they can make a better browser by starting from scratch…advances in browsers are good.”
Lilly pointed out that most of the other browser vendors — Microsoft, Apple and now Google — have other businesses and thus another agenda. For Mozilla, Firefox was the only agenda. “Our only agenda is to make web better — it is our single mission,” Lilly says. With over 200 million users worldwide and a development team made up mostly of volunteers, Lilly says he isn’t worried about Chrome just yet. “I really don’t know how it will impact us,” he says.
He is right to take a wait-and-see attitude. For one, browser market share doesn’t change overnight. Google, despite its awesome reach, has a history of launching products that tend to lose steam. It has yet to hit home runs that rival its search and contextual advertising businesses.
Not having seen Chrome, I will withhold any final judgement myself, but I would look at the privacy implications of Chrome very, very carefully. I have long since stopped buying into the “do no evil” drivel the company keeps espousing.
This tussle between Mozilla and Google is going to get more gripping in coming years. Mozilla has a services strategy — Project Weave – that could eventually compete with Google’s suite of services. Whatever it is, it seems like Mozilla is ready for the challenge. And just when we thought the world of browsers was getting boring.
You can download Google Chrome from here when it becomes available.
Related Posts:
* GigaOM Interview with John Lilly, CEO, Mozilla Corp.
* Browser wars again.
* John Lilly on The GigaOM Show.
Photo of John Lilly by Joi via Flickr.
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Om da man! FYI – I can barely hear John in the video – even with my speakers on the top volume.
I assume that Firefox’s core constituency consists of tech geeks and early adopters. That said, Google’s browser should strike a chord with that very same demographic and will pose a serious issue to Mozilla. This is in slight contrast to IE which is still supported by mainstream, less technical web users. Maybe Mozilla isn’t scared, but they should be. Remember Netscape?….barely.
Allen
that was wrong video. older video that wasn’t supposed to be embedded in a live version. sorry about that.
@ Chris,
I second your sentiments, but I have to say that give Google’s history of mediocrity, I am not so sure. And John is right to not be worried just yet
@Om,
Agreed. However, I will say this. IMO, Google’s recent woes are results of their “brand betrayal”… ie. their entrance into questionable markets (Froogle, Lively, and possibly Knol), and not their failure to execute and develop quality software. This latest venture is in no way questionable as it’s an interface into core business. Your point is very well taken though. It’ll be interesting to watch it all unfold.
not worried by should become a new meme. Seriously, what else would you expect them to say? We’re screwed?
Oops I forgot tags are supported. That previous comment should read:
“XYZ Company” not worried by “ABC Competitor” should become a new meme.
This will be another application .. in Beta …for another 3 years.
1. Firefox is used by many techies. now they will ebrace ..Chrome probably ditching FireFox. Firefox will go down in market stare. and IE will have probably not so noticeable … slow down. and for share of safari ..no one really cares .
2. IE wise . though IE8 is still slower than FF . one advantage for IE is many websites are still IE dependent.
3. Chrome – the name not so appealing to the masses . specs look good though , making it fastest to start , browse and close.
4 . dont do evil to FireFox.
javascript is an important component of google’s vision, and it will play a prominent role in loosening the grip of windows. chrome is a performance play to elevate the language and its potential.
this makes a lot of sense for google.
What is so puzzling is that they chose to debut it the day after the Summer holiday.
Also, just a three days ago, it was announced that Mozilla had renewed an agreement with Google Inc. that pays them for assigning Google’s search engine as Firefox’s default through November 2011.
So did Mozilla have any idea this would happen mere days after the agreement.
Also, was this a strategic launching by Google to prevent negotiations from breaking down.
Interesting strategy – and they managed to keep it all secret.
But unlike previous leaks, they leaked this to Blogoscoped instead of WSJ or Techcruch