Dell bundles Firefox with new systems

Dell UK has started bundling the open source Firefox browser with its desktop PC systems, a sales rep for the computer maker confirmed to vnunet.com.

Dell will also support the application, according to the representative, who identified himself only as 'Jay'. An official spokesman for the company was unable to comment due to the holiday period.

The computers will ship with both Internet Explorer and Firefox. The bundling deal appears to be limited to the UK for now.

The move could offer a major push to Firefox's market share. The open source browser rose to a 11.5 per cent share in November, according to data from Onestat. The same data pegged Internet Explorer's market share at 85.5 per cent.

Bundling Internet Explorer with Windows in the past allowed Microsoft to beat Netscape to the number one position in browser market share because most users will use whatever browser ships with their system.

After a judge ruled that the exclusive browser bundling deals were unlawful, Microsoft began to lose its grip on the browser market.

HP said earlier this year that it would start bundling Netscape with its desktop and laptop computers by 2006.

See also:

First Firefox 1.5 exploit made public

Popular browser vulnerable to denial of service attack  09 Dec 2005

Opera issues security patch for Unix users

Rapid response to Secunia alert  25 Nov 2005

Apple sharpens Tiger's teeth

OS X 10.4.3 delivers 60 updates  01 Nov 2005

Firefox community website hacked again

Second time in three months  05 Oct 2005

Security hole hits Firefox

Buffer overflow flaw affects all versions of the open source browser  12 Sep 2005

Spammers hack Firefox support site

Trying to send spam to the savvy  18 Jul 2005

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