Browsers are powerful tools that we use to access the internet. They are gateways that give us the power to access any piece of human knowledge on the internet. Some of the best-known browsers are Google Chrome, Windows Edge, and Mozilla Firefox. All three offer much more than places to conduct a Cox internet speed test.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox, one of the most popular browsers of all time, is perhaps Mozilla’s finest and most recognized work. The browser has been on the scene for over 2 decades and has survived where many other popular browsers have died out.
One of the biggest contributors to Mozilla’s popularity is how it does not eat up all your RAM. Google Chrome, which comes with numerous extensions and add-ons, tends to be heavy on the RAM usage. Microsoft Edge is fairly decent in terms of RAM usage, but it has the unfortunate parentage of Internet Explorer.
The current version of Firefox is Firefox Quantum. The browser is an instant hit thanks to its privacy protection and browsing features. Mozilla bills it as the fastest private browsing mode, which comes with additional tracking protection.
Current Features of Firefox Quantum
Firefox Quantum has made a name for itself in circles with people who value and protect their data privacy. The light and fast browser come equipped with the latest in privacy and tracking protection. Firefox Quantum currently features the following:
– Private Browsing
Firefox’s Private Browsing mode makes sure your browsing history isn’t saved anywhere. It also blocks online trackers to prevent anyone from monitoring your browsing habits.
– Tracking Protection
Many digital ads you see on the internet come equipped with hidden trackers to follow your browsing habits. This is supposed to offer a better and more relevant advertising experience. However, it can get mildly to intensely invasive for some people. Firefox Quantum’s powerful tools make sure hidden trackers cannot follow you around on the internet.
– Faster Loading Times
Firefox Quantum promises a load time that is on average 44% faster than other browsers. The browser does this by blocking certain scripts and ads that slow down website loading speeds. This ensures your websites open faster and you’re not stuck hitting the refresh button on heavier websites.
Upcoming Subscription Feature for Firefox Quantum
Mozilla has plans to offer an in-browser subscription service with the latest version of Firefox Quantum. Not much is clear, but company spokespersons have said that the new subscription will unlock access to some premium features. What exactly these features will be is still open to speculation.
Chris Beard, Mozilla CEO and top-man, talked about the new features in a recent interview. He maintained that the premium features would include cloud storage and VPN protection. The company intends to start rolling out the mysterious subscription service by October 2019.
For now, we don’t have too many details on what this subscription service could hold for users. It is also not very clear if this is a single-subscription service that offers a number of features. Or, conversely, if we will have to subscribe to each premium feature separately.
We do know that Mozilla recently began the testing of ProtonVPN, a subscription-based VPN service the company plans to offer. Most of the testing took place on October 2018, with the subscription available to a very small number of users. Those who had the option could subscribe to ProtonVPN through Firefox for a reasonable $10 per month.
Why is Mozilla Branching Out?
From our perspective, the aim behind new Firefox services is to allow Mozilla to build additional revenue streams. And it is not just branching out into related areas. The company is attempting to diversify its services and offer a better browsing experience in one window.
Currently, Mozilla relies heavily on revenue that comes from search companies. Companies that pay Mozilla in exchange for Firefox featuring them. A significant portion of this revenue comes from Mozilla’s biggest and direct competitor, Google. You can see why the company is pivoting a shift towards revenue streams that are less dependent on the competition.
Bottom Line
For now, Mozilla states that all existing Firefox features will remain free to use. Instead, it is reaching out with a premium service to people who already use its free browser. Mozilla aims to generate revenue from at least some percentage of those users who currently do not pay the company at all.
Mozilla aims to offer a free browser, with high-performance ratings, and default privacy settings. This will continue to be at the core of the services that the company currently offers and will offer in the future.
Firefox on Cox internet plans or any other internet connection will continue to function as we know and love. The point of the new subscription service is not to shift away from the reach and development of its free services. Instead, the aim is to offer premium services in addition to the ones already in use.
