Godzilla Shook Japan. Can Mozilla Shake China?

Mozilla, the company that brings you the internet browser Firefox, has targeted China as a big opportunity to preach its open source sermon. They've decided to open an office in Beijing. China's the second largest pool of internet users in the world, after the US.

In China, stricter government rules on piracy and expensive software licences might encourage more consumers to turn to open-source technology, industry watchers say. Ever keen to develop home-grown technology, Beijing is also working on its own computer operating system and third-generation wireless standard, as well as its answer to the open-source movement -- state-backed Linux distributor Red Flag Software. Microsoft's Explorer remains the most widely used software to surf the Web, but the long gap between major releases has allowed the emergence of its most formidable browser competitor since it vanquished the once-dominant Netscape.

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