Mozilla To Develop IM?
By Christopher Nickson
February 20, 2008
Mozilla Messaging is launched to develop Thunderbird 3 e-mail and look at the possibility of adding instant messaging.
The open-source development organization, the Mozilla Foundation, has a shiny new baby – Mozilla Messaging.
The new subsidiary will focus on developing Thunderbird 3, Mozilla’s next e-mail client. According to ZDNet, it will also look at the possibility of integrating instant messaging. David Ascher, Mozilla Messaging’s CEO, said,
"There are open-source IM libraries we could integrate into a Mozilla IM client. IM is an interesting technology. We're [also] thinking of integrating IM capabilities into email."
If Mozilla does develop instant messaging, it would not only work with other open-source IM clients, but also open-standard and proprietary clients. It might also have the ability to search both e-mail and IM archives through the new Thunderbird.
There are plans to improve Thunderbird in its new incarnation, and the company is open to those who want to work on it – individuals might get a free computer. But Mozilla also wants to work with other companies, too, and so far Sun has shown real interest.