Mozilla Firefox is one of the most widely used web browsers in the world, second only to Microsoft Internet Explorer.  Many believe Firefox’s popularity is because Google is embedded in Mozilla. It makes browsing easier for users. Google has had a contract with Mozilla for over 2 years now. The agreement would be expiring in 2011, and there are rumors circulating that say the dynamic duo with go their separate ways at the end of the contract.

With the launch of Google Chrome, Mozilla certainly is losing users. Mozilla makes revenues of about $75 million through the contract every year. Google, which is the default search engine in Mozilla, has already taken off with its new browser Google Chrome. Though Google seems to become popular independently, but Google has the major share of the credit in making Mozilla popular.

There is news in the air saying that Google is not planning to renew the agreement, which is set to expire in 2011. This has led Mozilla to think about establishing relationships with similar search engines, in order to raise the same revenue.

Mozilla now seems desperate for partnerships like this. Even though Mozilla is not sure about what Google would do after the agreement expires, they have wisely started looking for alternatives. It is expected that Mozilla will lose a lot if Google withdraws the contract in 2011. Mozilla has now thought about establishing themselves in the mobile platform. They will launch their mobile browser, Fennec, in some of the Nokia phones.

Mozilla has thought of raising their revenue by finding a third party who will pay Mozilla for the opportunity they get through it of being exposed to a big market. Mozilla’s balance sheet seems to be full of Google. Google has made Mozilla the second most used browser after Microsoft’s internet explorer. More than 88% of the revenue of Mozilla is through Google. Mozilla has about 22% of the browser user market, which is after Internet Explorer holding the largest share of 67%.

Mozilla is in a quandary and probably won’t make any major decisions any time soon. However, they are playing safe by keeping several alternatives ready, in case Google does not renew the agreement.