Ecosia launches a cross-platform browser, begins an affiliate hyperlink program

Tree planting search engine Ecosia launched a brand new cross-platform browser immediately to extend its on-line footprint.

The brand new browser, obtainable for Mac, Home windows, iOS, and Android, is constructed on high of Chromium. That’s why there aren’t many function variations from Chrome. The corporate sees that as a very good factor as folks may be tempted to change over with out letting go of their internet shopping routine. Nevertheless, you may customise the touchdown web page and take away sections — resembling high websites or local weather affect — that aren’t to your liking.

Picture Credit: Ecosia

Michael Metcalf, Ecosia’s chief product officer, advised TechCrunch over a name that the corporate constructed a browser to broaden its sustainable presence.

“The main reason we are building a browser is because we want to go where our users are and start to expand the footprint of where they can be sustainable. Right now, our main use case is around search, but we want to expand into parts of browsing experiences,” Metcalf stated.

Ecosia can also be beginning an affiliate purchasing program with the launch of this new browser. Customers will see hyperlinks to purchasing websites like Amazon, eBay, and Decathlon beneath the sponsored hyperlinks part.

The corporate stated all the cash earned by way of affiliate revenues will go in the direction of planting bushes and backing different inexperienced tasks. By way of this type of funding, Ecosia has dedicated to producing 25Wh of fresh power per consumer every day they browse.

Metcalf stated that whereas the corporate promotes decrease consumption, it’s conscious that individuals store incessantly, and with the associates program, they’ve a chance to present again.

Sooner or later, the corporate needs to enhance the affiliate purchasing interface, integrate its AI chatbot, and add extra customization to the browser.

It’s robust to ask folks to vary their browsers, so the corporate goals to focus on its present consumer base of 20 million initially, together with advertising focused in the direction of informal inexperienced customers. The corporate stated that it was proud of the retention fee in its early beta testing. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have any information on whether or not there was any affect on the quantity of Ecosia searches when a consumer switches to the corporate’s browser.

Ecosia made just a few structural changes to its search engine last year. After years of utilizing Bing as a sole search supplier, the corporate began experimenting with Google search in markets like Canada, New Zealand, Brazil, and the Philippines. The corporate makes use of System1, which syndicates search outcomes from Microsoft Bing, Startpage, and Data.com in different geographies.

Earlier this yr, Ecosia additionally crossed the mark of planting more than 200 million trees throughout 95,000 places worldwide.