One of the few software products to receive fan mail from all corners of the world, Mozilla Corp.'s popular Firefox browser has opened a new window into the Web. Its release in November 2004 awakened the Web from years of stagnation, making it chic to be a geek. Firefox's success over the past year is a testament to the need for choice on the Web, in fact to-date, the Firefox community has grown to over 50 million users. Its journey from an unknown Mozilla project to a highly visible Web phenom is an impressive feat becoming more captivating every day. More people choose to surf the Web with the Firefox browser because it's simple, safe and customizable. Most importantly, with Firefox, the user comes first.
Anyone can test, enhance and kick the tires of the browser's code because Firefox is produced through an open source model. Firefox innovates faster than any other browser thanks to its army of 10,000 volunteers engaged in the Quality Assurance and Testing process who provide rapid feedback to Firefox developers. The community of developers is currently over 1,000 strong and made up of an international contingent of programmers from major corporations like IBM, Google, Intel and Red Hat, as well as other professionals, high school and college-aged students. This community shares a passion for choice and innovation on the Web and has built over 1,000 add-ons for the browser to extend its functionality. These add-ons empower users to customize the browser with entirely new features.
Mozilla relies on the dedicated Spread Firefox community, a uniquely volunteer-based marketing powerhouse, to spread the word about the browser. The group's innovative modes of grassroots outreach have swayed millions of new users toward Firefox and propelled the browser into the mainstream market. For the launch of Firefox 1.0, the community mobilized thousands of Firefox fans to sponsor a two-page ad in the New York Times. They also commemorated significant achievements for the browser with festivities for the 50 million and 100 million download marks and the launch of a space balloon for the browser's first birthday. The Firefox logo, created by the community, is recognized around the world. Its design is rooted in the image of the Red Panda, a mysterious and gentle creature.
Firefox blazed through its first year, building an impressive list of milestones to-date including:
Firefox and its community continue to grow at an amazing rate, and opportunities abound for new individuals to make their mark on the browser and the Web itself. For the launch of 1.5, Mozilla has initiated the Firefox Flicks campaign to show what the Web can do for you. With the Firefox Ad Contest, Mozilla looks to the imaginations of creative amateurs and film professionals to develop 30-second ads to spread the word about Firefox.
To learn more about Mozilla and Firefox, visit www.mozilla.com.