Mozilla will back down after refusing for years to launch a version of its famous web browser, Firefox for the Apple operating system. The restrictions that the Cupertino company imposes on third-party browsers to iPad and iPhone They had supposed the absolute rejection, but the arrival of iOS 8, with some important changes, as well as the modifications in the dome of Mozilla and its current situation in the market, have caused a change of opinion that could materialize in not too long.
Lukas Blakk, responsible for Firefox Release Management for desktop and mobile devices, has acknowledged on Twitter that the browser will make the leap to Apple's operating system “We need to be where our users are so we're going to get Firefox on iOS # mozlandia ”(“ We must be where our users are so let's launch Firefox on iOS”.) Read the message he posted on the 140-character social network.
The reasons for this change of opinion
Mozilla has been reluctant to release an iOS version of Firefox since its inception for various reasons. The first one that Apple forces web browsers that want to be present in the App Store to use the WebKit engine. This restriction has not changed with the arrival of iOS 8, although they have opened the door to other browsers other than their own (Safari) could offer performance like this. The use of W It was seen by Mozilla as a drag on its browser, although with these slight modifications they are able to launch a version that maintains the user experience of the versions for PC or Android.
On the other hand, the signature of the bitten apple does not allow any browser to replace Safari as the default to navigate on iPad or iPhone, as it happens with other tools. This does not seem to be too much of an issue for Mozilla, as they could incentivize the use of Firefox by offering a full sync with the desktop version. Those users of Firefox with an iPhone or iPad would put aside Safari and Chrome that in recent times is winning the game. It is the last reason and possibly the one that has influenced the most, the opportunity to relaunch firefox. Despite maintaining its identity as personalization, it has seen how Google has limited its growth and future expectations.