Mozilla has released the first fully fledged Beta version of its solution designed to enable end users to bridge their desktops with the Cloud. Prism 1.0 Beta, a project from Mozilla Labs, is now available for download, a total of 18 months since the project was initially introduced. The role of Prism was made clear from the get go. Mozilla is attempting to shake off the disparity between web and desktop applications. By blurring the line between the desktop and the Cloud, Prism is set up to allow for Internet-based and locally installed applications to run side by side on the desktop, defining a new paradigm of usability.

Matthew Gertner, self-defined full-time contributor to Mozilla Prism, enumerated some of the features delivered with the Beta build: “New API functionality for allowing Prism-enabled web sites more desktop like power; ability to set fonts, proxy settings and other application-specific settings; the ability to clear private data on demand; applications are automatically updated when new Prism versions are available; tray icon support, as well as submenus for dock and system tray menus; full OS X 10.4 support, and further OS X specific enhancement; and support for SSL exceptions.”

Gertner made sure to point out that companies including Yahoo with Zimbra and DesignLinks International had been already leveraging Prism for their products. The number of actual Prism testers is in the tens of thousands, and their feedback resulted in the new feature set introduced into the Beta development milestone.

“The ability to run stand-alone web apps and access them like normal desktop apps provides instant benefits to end users. However, a number of the advantages are only available when software developers take advantage of Prism-specific features. With the release of Prism 1.0 beta we are ready to start fostering an ecosystem that makes it easier for developers to create and distribute compelling web app bundles,” Gertner added.

Prism 1.0 Beta is available for download here.