Firefox Hits 50 Million Downloads

Mozilla announced Friday that its Firefox Web browser had reached the 50 million download mark, less than six months after its official launch last November. The news comes just a day after research firm OneStat.com released its latest figures showing that Mozilla browsers are still gaining market share, although at a slower rate.

To celebrate the milestone, Spread Firefox, the promotions arm of the Mozilla Foundation, gave out commemorative medallions to selected users who sent in their stories of how they promoted the upstart browser.

The stories ranged from a 82-year-old Florida man who sent in a pictures of cookies he used to celebrate his birthday, to an 11-year-old boy who temporarily tattooed the Firefox logo to his forehead after seeing reports of people selling parts of their bodies on eBay to be tatooed with corporate logos.

"Thanks to the hundreds of you who have regaled us with your heartwarming and often hilarious tales of spreading Firefox," developer Blake Ross wrote on the Spread Firefox Web site. He invited people to keep sending in their stories to a special e-mail address, as the group would continue to award the remaining prizes.

Ross also said that they had tracked which Spread Firefox affilate had sent the group its 50 millionth download and were in the process of contacting her. The group declined to indentify the gift, but called it "the biggest yet" and promised to reveal the winner next week.