Google has been the Firefox global search default since 2004. Our agreement came up for renewal this year, and we took this as an opportunity to review our competitive strategy and explore our options.
In evaluating our search partnerships, our primary consideration was to ensure our strategy aligned with our values of choice and independence, and positions us to innovate and advance our mission in ways that best serve our users and the Web. In the end, each of the partnership options available to us had strong, improved economic terms reflecting the significant value that Firefox brings to the ecosystem. But one strategy stood out from the rest.
Compared to the previous deal (where Google was the global default), the new deal also leaves Mozilla more free to pursue different partnerships worldwide. For example, Yandex is now the default Firefox search engine in Russia (as it was three years ago, before the global Google deal).
Both Google and Yahoo offered options with strong, economic terms. But it came down to a decision of values, and where Mozilla wanted to see the Internet in the future (again, full of choice, diversification, and healthy competition). What happens next is anyone's guess.
Google currently has the overwhelming share of the search market, which means a large advertising income. If other players get a bigger chunk of the pie, that means more competition.
If Mozilla wanted to promote choice, why not present the user with an option of some sort? I fail to see how picking s default provider counts as "choice".
But the choice isn't by default. Users must go explicitly choose. If Mozilla wanted to "promote choice", they'd prompt the user to pick a search engine on first use. Or use a default and make noise about changing. Like how FF reminds you about your rights, or asks to join customer feedback program.
I don't see how Yahoo promotes choice over Google, unless by choice you mean promote competition by going against the market leader. Which is fine, and I dislike Google, so good on y'all. But I don't get the point if euphemisms.
