Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Este fío arquivouse. Faga unha nova pregunta se precisa axuda.

Why Firefox is not using is own MLS (Mozilla Location Service) but Google's one?

  • 3 respostas
  • 1 has this problem
  • 30 views
  • Last reply by tisnoopy

tisnoopy
tisnoopy
more options

Mozilla owns MLS (Mozilla Location Service), but Firefox is using (by default) GLS (Google Location Service). Why to contribute to GLS instead of your own service MLS ???

Argument "for a better user experience" won't help MLS to grow up for sure.

Second question : If on Android i'm using Firefox, maybe using "Mozilla Stumbler" is redundant ? Firefox is doing the same in background perhaps ?

Mozilla owns MLS (Mozilla Location Service), but Firefox is using (by default) GLS (Google Location Service). Why to contribute to GLS instead of your own service MLS ??? Argument "for a better user experience" won't help MLS to grow up for sure. Second question : If on Android i'm using Firefox, maybe using "Mozilla Stumbler" is redundant ? Firefox is doing the same in background perhaps ?

Chosen solution

an interesting topic !

So I found an answer to my first question : It seems there is a contract between Mozilla and Google, that's why Mozilla is using GLS instead of MLS.

And an answer for my second : it's useless to use "Mozilla Stumbler" if you are using Android Firefox, you just have to go in advanced settings > collected data > check-in "Mozilla location services" if you wanna help Mozilla to feed this database.

Ler a resposta no contexto 👍 0

All Replies (3)

philipp
philipp
  • Moderator
more options

hi, though i'm not able to answer your question, firefox 65 will change in that it's relying on the operating system's apis instead of google's location service for html5 geolocation: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1512161

tisnoopy
tisnoopy Question owner
more options

Ok that's about Windows and Mac versions But what about Android Version? Firefox will still rely on GLS

Nowadays, location service is central for most applications, so I don't understand this choice.

I would like to help by using "Mozilla Stumbler", but If even Firefox is not using its own solution MLS for what to waste my efforts?

edit : I found out that it's possible to change localisation API in Firefox settings about:config --> geo.wifi.uri --> https://location.services.mozilla.com/v1/geolocate?key=%MOZILLA_API_KEY%

But by default, why to feed GLS instead of MLS ? That's mad.. and sad.

tisnoopy
tisnoopy Question owner
more options

Chosen Solution

an interesting topic !

So I found an answer to my first question : It seems there is a contract between Mozilla and Google, that's why Mozilla is using GLS instead of MLS.

And an answer for my second : it's useless to use "Mozilla Stumbler" if you are using Android Firefox, you just have to go in advanced settings > collected data > check-in "Mozilla location services" if you wanna help Mozilla to feed this database.