Firefox 2.0 Beta Set to Debut

The Mozilla Corporation’s Firefox Web browser, which, according to some estimates, is being used by 12 to 15 percent of computer users, will be getting an upgrade this September, according to the Associated Press.

The open source browser made quite a splash when it first debuted, with millions downloading it within the first days of its release. However, some believe the browser’s penetration may have reached its high point sometime last year, with Microsoft continuing to hang onto its market dominance with continued tweaks and attention to security with its Internet Explorer 7 browser. (Many critics, rightfully so, found Microsoft’s upgrades to be poor versions of Firefox’s consumer-friendly tools.)

This next Firefox release, though, will likely be a good indicator of the growth opportunities for Firefox and other similarly styled open source browsers. There is already some indication that the buzz around the upcoming release has helped to jumpstart its adoption by new users.