Pocket, launched as Read It Later, aims to slow the web down by letting you save interesting things to read while you’re at leisure. The fast-paced nature of online content, combined with the wealth of material published each day, can make it hard to stay on top of articles you want to read. Tapping the Pocket button in your browser instantly adds the page to your cloud-synced reading list, letting you revisit it on another device later on.
Pocket started life as a Firefox plug-in so it’s fitting that Mozilla is its new owner. The recently rebranded browser vendor said Pocket aligns with its mission to help people “discover and access” the best the web has to offer.
The app is Mozilla’s first acquisition. Pocket will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Mozilla Corporation. It will continue to operate with its current team for the foreseeable future.
“We believe that the discovery and accessibility of high quality web content is key to keeping the internet healthy by fighting against the rising tide of centralization and walled gardens,” said Chris Beard, Mozilla CEO. “Pocket provides people with the tools they need to engage with and share content on their own terms, independent of hardware platform or content silo, for a safer, more empowered and independent online experience.”
Pocket’s service is now available on iOS, Android and the web, alongside its browser extensions, standalone e-reader apps and third-party integrations. It’s a fairly ubiquitous service but boasts a relatively small 10 million monthly active users. According to Mozilla, three billion pieces of content have been saved using Pocket to date.
Under Mozilla’s ownership, Pocket could expand to reach more people through stronger browser extensions and an expanded reach. The service has few rivals, having largely succeeded in carving out its own niche. Instapaper is one alternative, now owned by Pinterest which itself is based on the idea of saving online content.
According to Pocket CEO Nate Weiner, Mozilla will act as “fuel to our rocketship” and enable Pocket to reach new highs. The app’s founder said the service is more relevant than ever as digital noise increases and the rise of fake news threatens to drown original online voices.
“Pocket’s mission is to create a platform that enables people to save, share, and consume the content worthy of their time and attention,” said Weiner. “And by doing so, we hope to make it easier to spend time with more high-quality content, no matter how noisy it gets.”
Pocket pledged that development of its app and services will continue as it starts work during its first week as a Mozilla subsidiary. The two companies sound optimistic that the purchase will deliver new value to online reading experiences, letting you browse when you want without the bloated ads of many news sites.
