Page III: After eight months of rapid growth, Firefox approaches its 1.0 release with new challenges in converting IE users.
With respect to security, the group resurrected a bug bounty originally offered by its corporate founder, Netscape Communications. Mozilla on Tuesday said it had awarded its first US$500 bug bounties under the program.
Four security researchers earned prizes: Marcel Boesch, Gael Delalleau, Georgi Guninski and Mats Palmgren. Palmgren returned his money to Mozilla to support the bounty program.
On the marketing front, Mozilla launched a site, Spread Firefox, in hopes of harnessing the open-source volunteer spirit to popularise the browser using free marketing techniques such as e-mail signatures and Web site buttons.
The promotion site launched with some barely veiled swipes at the market's dominant browser, Microsoft's Internet Explorer, whose security lapses have helped drive Firefox's pre-version 1.0 popularity with consumers and corporations alike.
"You are our marketing department," the site reads. "A diverse community of people tired of swatting pop-ups, chasing spyware, combating identity theft and installing security updates you could set your watch to. You have a vision of the 21st century Web and are ready to push it to the world, wresting control from a monopoly that has let it stagnate. We'll provide the tools, but you will drive campaigns that will be rolled out here over the coming months."
Spread Firefox is one of several sites that promote the browser. In addition to the main Mozilla.org site, the foundation launched a Get Firefox site that now redirects to Mozilla.org's Firefox page. Independent sites also work to raise awareness of IE alternatives, including Firefox.
Also Tuesday, Mozilla's Thunderbird mail client came out in version 0.8, replacing version 0.7, which came out in June. Mozilla also promised a fall release for Thunderbird 1.0.
With the Firefox preview, Mozilla said it had made it easier to view necessary pop-ups when using its pop-up blocker. The browser introduces new ways of identifying Web sites that may be trying to spoof others, and offers bookmarks that display frequently updated content such as news headlines.
Mozilla also said it had introduced an easier way of finding and installing plug-in applications like Macromedia Flash and Adobe's Acrobat document reader. The Firefox search engine now highlights search terms within a Web page.
While it puts most of its browser-building effort behind Firefox, Mozilla is still maintaining the Mozilla browser and its software suite. On Tuesday the group upgraded the Mozilla suite to version 1.7.3.
The handicappers bet on IE
Despite the updates and special programs, Rubin expressed skepticism that Firefox could make much of a dent in Microsoft's lead.
"I don't expect Firefox to gain significant market share against Internet Explorer," Rubin said. "It's a nice browser, but I don't think it offers a compelling enough alternative for most users to switch."
Instead, Rubin said he expected Firefox to continue to do well with niche markets, including among developers supporting cross-platform applications.
As for those dead-set against IE, Firefox may gain at the expense of other IE challengers such as Safari and Opera.
"Plus, there is always the Microsoft-haters," Rubin said. "But in that case, Firefox is probably taking share away from other non-Microsoft browsers."
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