Russian Firefox drops Google for Yandex

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Although Google has been the default search engine on popular web-browser Firefox's search bar (located right next to the address bar) for as long as many can remember, Russian users will soon find a new face taking Google's place: Yandex. According to Mozilla General Counsel Harvey Anderson, Russian-localized versions of Firefox 3.1 will have Google rival Yandex as their default search engine, with Google moving to the number 2 spot on the list. According to Mr. Anderson, "Russian users really wanted direct access to the Yandex search services in official Firefox RU builds."

This move marks the beginning of a new partnership between Yandex and Mozilla, one that almost certainly involves ad revenue sharing. Currently, Mozilla shares ad revenues with Google for every search performed through the default browser search settings. This agreement accounts for the large majority of Mozilla's total revenue (88% in 2007), and it may be inferred, then, that Yandex must be offering Mozilla a sweeter deal than Google. Founded in 1997, Yandex is currently Russia's largest search engine, with 44% of traffic to Russian websites coming from the site (as opposed to Google's 24%).

(6 replies) #1 thealexweb on 10 Jan 2009 - 20:53

It's Google's own fault for releasing Chrome.

#1.1 joelm91 on 10 Jan 2009 - 21:31

lol thats true Chrome just sucks

#1.2 thealexweb on 10 Jan 2009 - 21:40

joelm91 said,

#1.3 sharp65 on 10 Jan 2009 - 23:17

Chromes great for browsing, it's light and fast.

#1.4 Recon415 on 11 Jan 2009 - 00:07

sharp65 said,

The interface sucks, horrible performance, and lacks about 3/4 of the useful features I need for everyday browsing.

Once they load Chrome 2 up with everything it lacked compared to Firefox and IE, then it'll be too slow to use. It's fast now because it doesn't have anything on it.

#1.5 KevinN206 on 11 Jan 2009 - 00:38

Recon415 said,

What do you mean horrible performance? You say it's horrible performance and then later says it's fast. I can open Chrome three times before Firefox 3 would even load. Its interface is simple and easy to use except for the idiotic bookmarking scheme. I accidentally add new bookmarks often because the dam thing add a new bookmark you click it.

Plus, the plug-in and tab isolation is wonderful. I haven't had a tab or plug-in crash bringing down the entire browser.

What Chrome need is much better bookmark management and a lot more extensions.

#1.6 Marshalus on 11 Jan 2009 - 01:51

I actually have come to like Chrome.

(7 replies) #2 z0phi3l on 10 Jan 2009 - 22:01

Chrome has NOTHING to do with search preferences of the Russians, so stop trolling

#2.1 thealexweb on 10 Jan 2009 - 23:15

z0phi3l said,

z0phi3l I don't think your getting this. This wouldn't have happened if Google hadn't created Chrome. Now that the clock is ticking for Mozilla it must act to save itself, it must find new sources of income thus the end of Google as the default search. I think we'll see more of this later.

#2.2 GP007 on 11 Jan 2009 - 00:21

+1

We'll see if they change it for other areas later on.

#2.3 +Vlad on 11 Jan 2009 - 04:58

thealexweb said,

Alright I'm not getting this either. How did Google releasing Chrome have ANYTHING TO DO with what search engine Russians want to use by default in Firefox? Please explain.

#2.4 coth on 11 Jan 2009 - 09:55

Vlad said,

Yandex went to Silicon Valley last year. They have opened Yandex Labs, which is leaded by the former Yahoo vice president. Obviously, if Yandex goes International web market Firefox will benefit from it in future, because Yandex has some of more advanced technologies and services than Google.
However, Firefox isn't really popular in Russia. According to Yandex stats only 19% of users have Firefox. 28% goes to Opera.
http://stat.yandex.ru/stats.xml?ReportID=2857

That means - to secure positions in Russia, they have to cooperate with Opera. But they are cooperating with Firefox, which is slightly more popular then Opera on west. Possibly because they are thinking of future...

#2.5 Cryton on 11 Jan 2009 - 14:55

This wouldn't have happened if Google hadn't created Chrome. Now that the clock is ticking for Mozilla it must act to save itself, it must find new sources of income thus the end of Google as the default search. I think we'll see more of this later.

Total rubbish. Mozilla have been thinking about switching the russian Firefox's default search engine from Google to Yandex as far back as 2005 in my mind. The switch has *nothing* to do with Chrome, and everything to do with Mozilla using the best search engine for any given country.

#2.6 em_te on 11 Jan 2009 - 15:53

Back in 2005 Mozilla wanted to set Yandex as the default, but because of their cozy relationship with Google, they had to keep Google as the default. Now that Google snubbed Mozilla with Chrome, Mozilla is retaliating by really adopting Yandex and going all proper.

#2.7 Cryton on 11 Jan 2009 - 16:05

em_te said,

So because Google have released their own browser to the entire world, Mozilla are striking back by finally replacing default search engine in the Russian Firefox builds with the most popular Russian search engine?

That'll learn them!

(1 reply) #3 qdave on 10 Jan 2009 - 23:42

hmm well in russia yandex is more popular so no wonder. ff does whatever is beneficial to them.

#3.1 tiagosilva29 on 11 Jan 2009 - 00:37

sage

(1 reply) #4 Yggdrasil on 11 Jan 2009 - 05:38

Is Yandex stock available yet? The IPO was supposed to release fall '08, but haven't heard anything lately.

#4.1 coth on 11 Jan 2009 - 10:04

Yggdrasil said,

Is there anyone who goes IPO during international financial crisis?

(2 replies) #5 Marcin-prv on 11 Jan 2009 - 10:38

Check out - The Great Test of Web Browsers

Tested browsers:

Apple's Safari WebKit Nightly 3.2.1 (Build r39682)
Google Chrome 1.0.154.36 (Build 7716) Google Chrome 1.0.154.36 (Build 7716)
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 Beta 2 Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 Beta 2
Minefield (Firefox 3.2 Pre-Alpha 1) Minefield (Firefox 3.2 Pre-Alpha 1)
Mozilla Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 Mozilla Firefox 3.1 Beta 2
Netscape Navigator 9.0.0.6 Netscape Navigator 9.0.0.6
Opera 10 Alpha 1 (Build 1219m) Opera 10 Alpha 1 (Build 1219m)
SeaMonkey 2.0 Alpha 2 SeaMonkey 2.0 Alpha 2

Test:

1. Size after installation
2. ACID3 Test
3. SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark 0.9
4. Kane's Web Browser Javascript Benchmark
5. Dromaeo JavaScript Performance Test Suite
6. V8 Benchmark Suite - version 2
7. SlickSpeed Selector Test
8. CSS Selectors Test
9. CSS Rendering Benchmark
10. GUIMark - Flex 3 Version
11. GUIMark - HTML Version
12. RAM memory usage - 1 page
13. RAM memory usage - 10 pages
14. Memory leak test
15. First time browser start
16. Second time browser start
17. Work comfort with browser

Oryginal link (polish): http://www.frazpc.pl/b/229460

Translated by Google (english): http://translate.google.com/translate?prev...sl=pl&tl=en

#5.1 Airlink on 11 Jan 2009 - 13:31

You're actually comparing nightly builds of alphas for performance ratings? Exactly how crazy are you, and when did you stop taking your meds?

#5.2 Magallanes on 12 Jan 2009 - 16:16

Its funny when people mention about ACID test, usually a real compatibility level is inverse proportional with the ACID test compatibility, for example Iexplorer underperform the ACID test, instead in the real world is able to open almost any webpage (specially those webpage that will need active

, in opposite Safari and Chrome do a nice work with ACID test but suck in several webpages, screwing with the css, dom and javascript.

(2 replies) #6 bradsday on 11 Jan 2009 - 14:35

In mother Russia, Yandex Googles you.

#6.1 LTD on 11 Jan 2009 - 20:29

bradsday said,

LOL

#6.2 Magallanes on 12 Jan 2009 - 16:07

rolfmao

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