Yahoo to replace Google as Firefox browser's default search engine

A logo of Firefox. (File photo)

Firefox will soon switch its browser's search engine from Google to Yahoo in the US, according to media reports on Friday.

The five-year deal between Firefox and Yahoo will start in December, which integrates Yahoo search into Firefox's browser for desktop PCs and mobile devices such as smartphones.

As part of the deal, Yahoo will bring that new "clean, modern and immersive search experience" to Firefox users in the U.S. Yahoo will also support the "Do Not Track" technology for Firefox users, which will respect users' preferences not to be tracked for advertising purposes.

The deal means Google's 10-year run as Firefox's default search engine in the US is over, and it will bring search traffic for Yahoo.

Media review said, since Google had its own browser Chrome, it didn't have to share search-ad revenue from another browser; Yahoo, on the other hand, had ambitions to reclaim its former prominence in Web search.

"This is the most significant partnership for Yahoo in five years," said Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer in a blog post Wednesday.

Firefox had 10.4 percent of the US browser market on desktop PCs, mobile smartphones and tablets in October, according to tech data firm StatCounter.

(Agencies)