Google Urging Firefox Users to Switch Default Search Engine: Report

Firefox users in the US that do not have Google set as their default search engine in the browser are reportedly seeing a big request box in their Google Search results that asks them to choose Google instead. Notably, Firefox partnered Yahoo last year to make the Google rival its default search engine in the US.

First spotted by Search Engine Land, Google has placed a big message above its search results asking Firefox users to switch to Google as the browser's default search engine. The message shown in a screenshot above states "Switch your default search engine to Google" along with "Learn how" and "No, thanks" options. The move has been termed as a desperate attempt by Google to attract Firefox users. The request box is not visible in India.

The report adds that since the Firefox-Yahoo deal in November last year, Yahoo's search share rose from 8.6 percent in November to 10.9 percent in January, citing StatCounter figures. According to the same firm, Firefox has a market share of 16 percent in the US. As per comScore, Yahoo's market share in the US rose from 10.2 percent in November last year to 11.8 percent in December.

In November, at the time of Firefox-Yahoo deal, Mozilla's chief Chris Beard stated that "We are adopting a more local and flexible approach to increase choice and innovation on the Web, with new and expanded search partnerships by country." The decision to switch to Yahoo came as a decade-long agreement with Google neared its end and Mozilla evaluated its options, he said. The partnership with Yahoo is set to last five years.

Google lately has been concentrating on improving the mobile experience for users. Last month the search giant added a new 'carousel' feature in its search service, which presents recent articles, videos and more when searching for topics or websites. Users on searching a desired topic or a website through the Google Search app or via Google Chrome, can scroll down to see a 'carousel' of recent articles, videos or more on that subject or from that website.