Thunderbird represents a free and cross-platform e-mail and news client that has been developed by the Mozilla Foundation, which launched also the much successful browser, Firefox.

Mozilla’s purpose with these projects has always been to redefine and refine the web browsing, as well as mail and news experiences of the users. It has not been only the interface that has been special for these projects, but also the way they have been developed by their creators. Firefox, for example, has become more and more popular on the Internet, as a more secure and stable browser, comparing to Microsoft’s everlasting Internet Explorer.

However, Internet Explorer has still remained the first browser used on the Internet, but at least Firefox represents a much successful project for Mozilla than its Thunderbird email and news client. But it seems that Mozilla does not give up so easily its dreams, as the foundation has recently announced it wants for its Thunderbird project to reach at least Firefox’ success. On September 17, the Mozilla Foundation has announced the funding of a brand new Internet communications initiative that will as well involve ActiveState’s Dr. David Ascher.

Mozilla has said that the goal of this move is to “develop Internet communications software based on the Thunderbird product, code and brand”. On the other hand, this announcement hasn’t come all of a sudden. Back in 2005 the Mozilla Foundation has created the Mozilla Corporation as its commercial subsidiary responsible for its open-source products’ development and distribution. But in July 2007 the Foundation has realized that this commercial subsidiary is in fact focusing mainly on Mozilla Firefox and has announced that Thunderbird will be developed by an independent organization.

And now, just a few months since this announcement, the Mozilla Foundation has revealed that the still-unmanned subsidiary is on the way.

"The new organization doesn't have a name yet, so I'll call it MailCo here," said Mozilla CEO Mitchell Baker on her blog Monday night. "Technically, it will be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Mozilla Foundation, just like the Mozilla Corporation."

The Foundation has already provided it with $3 million and has started to plan its programming staff’s significant expansion. David Ascher, who is currently the chief technology officer at ActiveState and is also a longtime Mozilla community member, will be the subsidiary’s CEO.

"David has been a respected member of the Mozilla community for many years and we're excited that he is joining Mozilla to lead this important effort."

Among MailCo's out-the-gate goals, added Baker, are supporting existing Thunderbird users and creating "a better user experience for a range of Internet communications" that will explore how e-mail should work with other technologies such as RSS, instant messaging, VoIP, and SMS.