Recently there has been much speculation that Google would be releasing a Google branded version of the Firefox web browser. Well that speculation can now grow to include the “Ask Jeeves” search engine as well. Ask Jeeves went a step further then just a re-badged browser, and are apparently in talks to Open Source their desktop search software under the Mozilla foundation’s care. Ask Jeeves spokesman Jim Lanzone described Mozilla as “open-minded but non-committal”. I imagine Mozilla’s reluctance could at least in some part be attributed to not wishing to upset the good relationship they have developed with Google. This news comes less then a week after Yahoo released a tool bar for Firefox.
It seems that most of the big search engines enjoy the freedom of having a browser that isn’t tied to their opposition in the search market, (like Internet Explorer is tied to MSN). Don’t expect MSN to join the fray unless Internet Explorer becomes the under dog (we can hope can’t we?)
Read the full Ask Jeeves story here.
