Mozilla

Mozilla, founded in 1998, began as a project by Netscape to develop an open-source web browser. This led to the creation of the Mozilla Application Suite. The Mozilla Foundation spun out of Netscape in 2003 to support the project. Its mission is to ensure the internet is a global public resource, open and accessible for all users.

Mozilla’s key product is the Firefox web browser, which launch in 2004 and quickly gained popularity. Firefox introduced features like tabbed browsing and pop-up blocking, with a focus on speed, privacy, and user control. Other notable products include Thunderbird, Pocket, and Mozilla VPN. Mozilla also developed the Firefox OS for mobile devices, though the effort faltered and was shut down.

Recently, Mozilla has diversified its efforts into new initiatives:

• The Mozilla Foundation continues to support internet health, privacy, and security.
• The Mozilla Corporation develops and maintains end user products like Firefox, Pocket (acquired in 2017), and Mozilla VPN.
• Mozilla Ventures invests in companies that align with Mozilla’s mission.
• Mozilla AI focuses on creating trustworthy and ethical artificial intelligence.

These branches help advance Mozilla’s goals in a variety of areas. Mitchell Baker, Mozilla’s chairwoman, leads these efforts.