Mozilla Thunderbird Finally Takes On Gmail With New Email Service

Mozilla's Thunderbird Pro: A Privacy-Focused Email and Productivity Suite

While the popular Thunderbird desktop email client remains a powerful option, the shift towards web-based email services necessitates a modern alternative. Enter Thunderbird Pro, a suite of interconnected services prioritizing user privacy. This suite aims to create a complete, open-source productivity ecosystem, challenging established players like Gmail and Office 365.

At its heart is Thundermail, a new email service provider offering familiar webmail functionality similar to Gmail. Users can create new accounts or utilize their own custom domains. Crucially, Thundermail distinguishes itself through its commitment to privacy; it won't use user data for AI training, display ads, or sell user information. A beta signup is available at Thundermail.com.

Beyond Thundermail, Thunderbird Pro includes:

• Thunderbird Send: A revamped file-sharing service, offering direct and encrypted transfer of large files, reminiscent of the former Firefox Send.
• Thunderbird Appointment: A streamlined scheduling tool designed to simplify event and meeting planning (currently in beta).
• Thunderbird Assist: An experimental AI-powered email assistant. Prioritizing privacy, it aims to run locally on the user's PC whenever possible, with optional remote processing via Flower AI and Nvidia's confidential compute for users with less powerful machines.

According to Ryan Sipes, Managing Director of Product at MZLA Technologies Corporation (a Mozilla Foundation subsidiary), Thunderbird Pro addresses the issue of user lock-in prevalent in competing ecosystems. The goal is a fully open-source alternative.

Monetization and Future Plans

Initially, Thunderbird Pro will be a paid service. However, the plan is to introduce free tiers with limitations once a substantial user base is established. This ambitious expansion is fueled by Thunderbird's significantly growing donation revenue, increasing from $2.8 million in 2021 to $8.6 million in 2023, with 2024 figures expected to be even higher. Sipes believes this suite should have been developed years ago to avoid forcing users into compromising their privacy and preferences.

Join the conversation about Thunderbird Pro and its services on the Thunderbird mailing lists.

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