14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has already replaced the default Windows browser with the all-new Edge on both PC and mobile, but thanks to the universal app concept, more alternatives to the default option are expected to reach the market.
UC Browser, for example, has already confirmed that it’s working on a universal app, and Opera Mini is already a browser that’s worth a chance, but there’s at least one big name that doesn’t seem to be interested in bringing its browser on Windows 10 Mobile.
Mozilla, the maker of Firefox, which is currently one of the top desktop browsers and one very popular choice on Android and iOS, says it’s not currently looking at Windows 10 Mobile as the next target for its app.
In a statement received by NPU, Mozilla shot down any possibility of seeing Firefox on Windows 10 Mobile anytime soon. “Mozilla has no current plans to developer Firefox for Windows 10 Mobile,” the statement reads, and while this could change in the future, it’s very unlikely to happen.
On the other hand, Mozilla had already confirmed several months ago that it was working on a Windows 10 app, but the company most likely wanted to build a PC browser, and not a version that would run on mobile devices.
The declining market share effect
In most of the cases, developers refuse to invest in apps for Windows phones because of the small market of Microsoft’s mobile platform, as the limited number of users doesn’t help them monetize apps.
The most recent statistics have shown that Windows Phone declined to no less than 0.7 percent market share, which is the lowest point in the last couple of years, and with more and more developers leaving the platform, these figures could drop even more in the coming months.
Microsoft itself, on the other hand, is willing to support Windows 10 Mobile and plans to launch its own flagship phone next year while working with partners to support the ecosystem with a wider array of devices too.