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I wonder what would happen if somehow duckduckgo managed to be the default firefox search engine. Their results compared to google aren't bad at all.
Seriously, I was thinking the same thing a couple of days ago when I downloaded FF Beta 6. Adblock used to be my first installed extension, now DDG SSL search is. Right after that I "fix" the fallback address bar search as well.
The bi(n)g assumption the article makes is: Firefox switches to Bing from Google and still continues to be equally popular in the medium/long run. There are multiple possible scenarios - Post such a shift FFs market share erodes quickly and Microsoft basically bought a Lemon. Chrome becomes even more powerful. Post such a Shift FFs market share is simlar to that it enjoys today - Microsoft bought some traffic but a a…
I think in any of your 3 cases, if Microsoft pays 85 million then they are already ahead. I'll be willing to bet that winning 1% of the search market cost much more than 85 million, and they'll get a much larger share of the market than 1%, even under your most pessimistic scenario.
Could Firefox change their default search engine to Bing? Without losing users and causing a huge flame war? I doubt it. Google should stop paying just to see that flamewar, would be fun. 'Losing' firefox wouldn't be a massive blow, people who use firefox know how to change the default search engine. All that will happen is that they'll be a massive amount of hate directed at firefox for trying to force bing down the…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the article actually makes the opposite point, i.e. that Google needs Firefox more than Mozilla needs Google.
Firefox is bleeding market share as it is. Pulling people's favorite search engine out from under them is only going to goose the uptake of Chrome. Hopefully Google and Mozilla both appreciate they have more to gain by cooperating.
The bi(n)g assumption the article makes is: Firefox switches to Bing from Google and still continues to be equally popular in the medium/long run. There are multiple possible scenarios - Post such a shift FFs market share erodes quickly and Microsoft basically bought a Lemon. Chrome becomes even more powerful. Post such a Shift FFs market share is simlar to that it enjoys today - Microsoft bought some traffic but a a…
I really do not see #3 as being so unlikely. How many people actually change their default search engines? We are talking about Normals, not just tech-savvy people.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think in any of your 3 cases, if Microsoft pays 85 million then they are already ahead. I'll be willing to bet that winning 1% of the search market cost much more than 85 million, and they'll get a much larger share of the market than 1%, even under your most pessimistic scenario.
I agree, I was actually surprised that MS didn't approach Firefox with a better offer right now. It makes senses now that I know there is a contract with a expiration. Larger park means more advertiser interest for Bing. It would even be more profitable for Bing than it is for G because they need to conquer some of the G users.
Do you know something we don't?
The bi(n)g assumption the article makes is: Firefox switches to Bing from Google and still continues to be equally popular in the medium/long run. There are multiple possible scenarios - Post such a shift FFs market share erodes quickly and Microsoft basically bought a Lemon. Chrome becomes even more powerful. Post such a Shift FFs market share is simlar to that it enjoys today - Microsoft bought some traffic but a a…
I really do not see #3 as being so unlikely. How many people actually change their default search engines? We are talking about Normals, not just tech-savvy people.
And they click "Yes" or "Ok" on any dialog without reading ;)
Firefox has demolished Internet Explorer's market share over the years, and it's always been an important product for MS. Arguably more important than Bing (which continues to hemorrhage money).
I don't see how funding Firefox would be any more in Microsoft's interest than in Google's.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Firefox is bleeding market share as it is. Pulling people's favorite search engine out from under them is only going to goose the uptake of Chrome. Hopefully Google and Mozilla both appreciate they have more to gain by cooperating.
With current trends, in some years Google will need Mozilla as much as it needs Opera.