Mozilla is challenging major internet-based communication services with the latest plug-in free voice and video chatting service - Firefox Hello.
Mozilla, the maker of popular Firefox browser, has long been pushed to the back seat in the highly-competitive market, but the company is making rigorous efforts to fight back. Mozilla is developing a new service that brings seamless communication options without going through a series of setups. The new software, which is being called Firefox Hello, is still in beta stage and enables voice and video calls with other online users regardless of the type of the browser, PC World reported.
The new service does not require special software or plugins, usually required to run third party software on a browser. However, the Firefox beta users can communicate with other users as long as the third-party browser supports WebRTC, which is a standard in Google Chrome and Opera. Sadly, Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Apple Safari will not support the new service. The recipients on browsers other than Firefox will receive a callback link, which will initiate communication between the users without logins or additional steps, the report added.
According to a report by CNET, Mozilla has been testing the new chat service since September. Initially, the service required users to sign up but the company has upgraded it to make it simple. With a new name for the service, Firefox Hello will be rolled out to all Firefox Beta users in the upcoming weeks.
"Firefox Hello is more than just a feelgood alternative to services like Microsoft's Skype, Apple's Facetime and Google Hangouts; it's a way to communicate that doesn't require the recipient to jump through any hoops. If you've ever tried to video chat with a far-flung relative and don't know what software or services they use, there's real utility in a chat option that doesn't particularly care," PC World report said.
To make this happen, Mozilla partnered with live chat platform provider TokBox. The service brings additional benefits to Firefox users on both ends, as they can contact each other with a single click without a callback link.
