Digital Journal — Sometimes the tech world is just like Hollywood: It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Just ask Google, RealNetworks or Mozilla (makers of the Firefox Web browser), as the three companies have announced a joint venture to distribute Firefox with Google Toolbar and Real’s RealPlayer audio and video software.
If this were Hollywood, the partnership would be like a ménage à trois between Johnny Depp (aka Google, the actor everyone loves), Charlize Theron (aka Firefox, the under-recognized beauty) and, well, Richard Simmons (aka RealPlayer, the annoying dude everyone tolerates).
Firefox, the most popular Web browser alternative to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser, and Google Toolbar will be made available as an option for customers who use RealPlayer, RealNetwork’s Rhapsody music service and RealArcade games.
It’s another pie in the face for Microsoft as they prep next year’s release of their new operating system, Windows Vista. Vista includes newer software with more built-in search features, meaning Google, Firefox and RealNetworks have to place well in the heats so they can get a decent position for the finals.
The agreement extends a multi-year deal with RealNetworks to promote Google software across Real’s entertainment and multimedia products. In the past, Google has also signed deals with PC powerhouse Dell and software giant Adobe.
While no financial terms were disclosed, you can bet someone at Google and RealNetworks got a big promotion for inking a deal with such an influential team, and the Mozilla crew are no doubt laughing in the face of Microsoft.
While Google’s choice of partnering with Firefox is obvious — the browser has been downloaded more than 200 million times and continues to spread across the globe — the partnership with RealPlayer is unfortunate.
Indeed, RealPlayer is the second most popular media software after Windows Media Player (it’s used by 28 million people) but the software is bloated, resource-heavy and less user-friendly than Windows Media Player or Apple’s QuickTime.
(We’re convinced the 28 million people who use RealPlayer only do so because they use a service that jams it down their throats. Nobody would actually use it by choice.)
But RealPlayer isn’t going away anytime soon, so it’s better for Google and Mozilla to hop in bed together now. Otherwise, Microsoft will be seducing tech users worldwide.
