Over the last year, Mozilla has been experimenting with integrating ads into its popular browser, Firefox, in an attempt to integrate them into the tiles on new tab page (and presumably earn more revenue). But now, Mozilla’s VP of content services, Darren Herman has released a blog post revealing plans for the advancement of content in Firefox, and this future will no longer include ads.
According to Herman, the decision to move away from providing advertisement is the result of a learning process within the Content Services Team, about what users want from their products and the web. Users wish to experience content that is “relevant, exciting and engaging” and the removal of ads will both allow the space to be used to provide such content, as well as letting the team focus on getting the new systems for content discovery right. This may not be the end of advertisement in Firefox for good, however, with Herman feeling that “Advertising in Firefox could be a great business, but it isn’t the right business for us at this time”.
The ads won’t be gone immediately either, as Mozilla will still honour their commitments and obligations to their existing advertisement partners, with the presence of ads winding down over the coming months.
