Post Google, Mozilla's new search deals to make up revenue

The nonprofit behind the Firefox browser and other software reported its financial results on Wednesday for 2014, the last year for which the lucrative Google deal contributed.

The foundation's total revenue for 2014 was US$329.5 million, close to $15 million more than a year prior.

The Google deal accounted for for 88 percent of its revenue in 2013, or about $275 million. It likely also helped Mozilla's modest growth in 2014.

But since that arrangement ended,  Mozilla has made deals with other search providers to be the default engine in its browsers. The largest deals are with Yahoo, Yandex and Baidu, with others including Amazon, eBay and Bing. It also receives donations and grants.

"We will continue to invest in these and other partnerships that allow us to expand our impact on the world," Mozilla said in a FAQ. 

The financial impact of those deals won't be evident until Mozilla next reports its finances in November 2016. The foundation said it wouldn't provide "specific projections" for the growth of its products this year.

Mozilla's Firefox browser was a darling of the Web for many years after it debuted in 2002 when there were fewer alternatives.

Its market share on the desktop, however, eroded after Google launched its Chrome browser.

As Internet browsing has increased on mobile devices, Mozilla has moved into mobile and has browsers for Android and iOS. It also developed a Linux-based mobile operating system, Firefox OS, for tablets and smartphones, but that has proved to be a tough market to crack.

Over the next year, the foundation said it would focus on improving the mobile OS as well as the Firefox browser for iOS and Android.