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Speakeasy Embraces Firefox

Posted by timothy on from the when-free-is-valuable dept.

xdavexxx writes " Speakeasy, one of the largest DSL providers in the United States, recently announced that it will begin offering a specialized version of Mozilla Firefox to its customers. In doing so, they are one of the first internet companies to offer an official customized version of Firefox to its customers. This custom version of Firefox will keep the Firefox Google home page, but have the Speakeasy logo and feature a Speakeasy toolbar filled with links recommended by Speakeasy. No money was exchanged between the Mozilla Foundation and Speakeasy, as Firefox is open source and is freely available for use by anyone. Speakeasy's reasoning for this is simple; to increase the reliability and speed of its internet service." It should be pointed that Slashdot (and OSTG) have a partnership with Speakeasy.

13 of 336 comments (clear)

  1. Branded by mboverload · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Lets just hope they keep the name Firefox somewhere on the program so they can tell their friends.

    1. Re:Branded by FrYGuY101 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      At the very least, let's hope this provides a critical mass which means that site operators have to deal with IE AND Firefox, rather than simply viewing FireFox as a negligable market.

      --
      "If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living."

      - Seneca
  2. Makes sense... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Fewer Malware programs target FireFox, less security vulnerabilities, means less bandwidth is used by said malware and more by the actual customers.

    Kudos, Speakeasy.

    1. Re:Makes sense... by greechneb · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yes, but unfortunatly, even though firefox is superior software, eventually there will be spyware targeted to firefox. The spyware and malware writers aren't stupid, unfortunately, and they'll find any way to fool stupid users.

      I'm not saying it will ever be the epidemic IE has, but there will be some spyware that will fool users, whether it be a toolbar, or some other "add on" that sounds good to users.

      Build smarter mouse, someone builds a better mousetrap unfortunately.

    2. Re:Makes sense... by adamjaskie · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Except that Firefox does not do ActiveX, so writing malware for it is that much more difficult. Possible, sure, but quite a bit more difficult.

      --
      /usr/games/fortune
    3. Re:Makes sense... by Masami+Eiri · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yeah, but Firefox has XPI extentions. Granted, you have to whitelist to install, but there are stupid users out there.

  3. Good way to spread it by Kethinov · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Many ISP customers just do exactly what their ISP tells them to. If this ISP starts shoving Firefox down customers' throats, Firefox market share could drastically increase over IE's.

    --
    You're right, I wouldn't steal a car. But if it were possible, I sure as hell would download one!
  4. Re:And so it begins by geomon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    And by that, I mean the security holes creaping in.

    That very well could be.

    The difference between IE and Firefox will be in how well they respond to the bugs that are found.

    --
    "Rocky Rococo, at your cervix!"
  5. Speakeasy by mboverload · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Speakeasy seems to be pretty in tune with the "geek/nerd" community. This shows they have smart managers or a persuasive IT department.

    Anyway, we should commend them greatly. Now we can say that ISP's even recommend it.

  6. support costs by confusion · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This probably makes a lot of sense from a support perspective. I've got to believe that most of the calls that support people get are related to the 397 spyware apps competing for keystrokes on the customer's computer.

    It problably also has to potential to cut down on spambots & other zombies residing on their network.

    Jerry
    http://www.syslog.org/

  7. Re:This isn't exactly new.... by mboverload · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Netscape paid them that time. This time it is because Firefox just plain rules. Even better, NO licensing to deal with, which makes Firefox an attractive option for any company distributing or recommending it.

  8. Re:Wrong place to start by grub · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Actually by replacing IE they are pretty much ending the use of ActiveX over their network. Less 0wn3ed machines == less spam/zombies/what have you. It is proactive on their part.

    --
    Trolling is a art,
  9. Re:SWEET! (or shinola?) by turnstyle · · Score: 3, Insightful
    "hope more companies start doing that"

    Does that include:

    "This custom version of Firefox will have the Speakeasy logo and feature a Speakeasy toolbar filled with links recommended by Speakeasy. No money was exchanged between the Mozilla Foundation and Speakeasy, as Firefox is open source and is freely available for use by anyone."

    I know I'm old-fashioned, but I think coders should be paid for their work.

    --
    Here's what I do: Bitty Browser & Andromeda