Google stays as default Firefox browser

Google has signed a new three-year agreement with Mozilla to keep its search engine as the default choice in Firefox.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but Mozilla said last year that around 98 per cent of its royalties come from deals with search companies.

Google has its own browser in the form of Chrome, so the firm could have declined to re-sign the agreement. Both firms were pleased with the result, according to a joint release.

"Under this multi-year agreement, Google Search will continue to be the default search provider for hundreds of millions of Firefox users around the world," said Mozilla chief executive Gary Kovacs.

Alan Eustace, senior vice president of search at Google, added: "Mozilla has been a valuable partner to Google over the years and we look forward to continuing this great partnership in the years to come."

Chrome is now the most popular browser in the UK with a market share of around 24 per cent, according to figures released by Statcounter earlier this month.