Mozilla Firefox is said to be on a losing streak after reportedly losing a crucial deal with rivals Google.
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The search partnership deal, which supplied Firefox with 84% of its revenue stream, expired at the end of last month, and means Mozilla could be in serious trouble.
A ZDNet report also suggests the lucrative contract has not been renewed, with the giant refusing to comment on the status of negotiations.
In a recent financial statement dated August, Firefox confirmed the deal with search giants Google was up for renewal, although said it was confident search partnerships as a revenue stream would continue into the future.
Last year’s figures show 84% of Mozilla’s $123 million revenue came from the search deal with rival Google. The deal would also have been lucrative for Chrome as it is still almost neck and neck with the Mozilla in the user stakes.
“We currently have partnerships with a number of search providers that differ by market. Our largest contract, with Google, comes up for renewal in November,” Mozilla said in August.
“We have every confidence that search partnerships will remain a solid generator of revenue for Mozilla for the foreseeable future.”
In November, Google Chrome overtook Firefox for the first time ever globally, however marginally, accounting for 25.69% of users compared to Firefox’s 25.23%, according to StatCounter figures.
And although Microsoft’s Internet Explorer still maintains a strong lead over rivals globally – accounting for almost 41% of web browsers – it looks like Chrome is leading the in terms of newer players challenging the dominance of IE.
In Australia, Firefox users have also dipped to 23%, while Chrome still accounts for only 20%, recent StatCounter figures also show.
IE also accounts for 40% share here.
And analysts are predicting an epic battle ahead between rivals Firefox and Chrome:
“We can look forward to a fascinating battle between Microsoft and Google as the pace of growth of Chrome suggests that it will become a real rival to Internet Explorer globally,” says Aodhan Cullen, CEO, StatCounter.
