Mozilla revealed today that the open-source Android email client K-9 Mail will become Thunderbird on Android. Christian Ketterer, the developer and maintainer of K-9 Mail has joined the Thunderbird team and will work on transforming the app into the Android version of Thunderbird.
K-9 Mail is a quite popular email client on Android with over 5 million downloads on the Play Store. The app has a Gmail-like interface and supports every email provider with push IMAP support and unified inboxes. Because the app already supports power user features with a shared focus on privacy and open standards, Mozilla acknowledged that taking over the K-9 Mail open source project was the easiest way to bring Thunderbird to Android.
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“Thunderbird users have long been asking for Thunderbird on their Android and iOS devices. This move allows Thunderbird users to have a powerful, privacy-respecting email experience today on Android. Plus, it lets the community help shape the transition of K-9 Mail into a fully-featured mobile Thunderbird experience, the Thunderbird team announced today.
Before K-9 Mail gets rebranded to Thunderbird on Android, the team still needs to “reach certain development milestones that will bring K-9 Mail into alignment with Thunderbird’s feature set and visual appearance.” The roadmap currently includes adding support for account auto-configuration, improved folder management, support for message filters, and synchronization between the mobile app and Thunderbird on the desktop.
dftf
<p><em>Might</em> use it on desktop, but I’d say unlikely.</p><p><br></p><p><em>Firefox</em>, their <u>biggest-product</u>, only has a use-share of about 0.5% or lower on mobile and tablet devices — so given that poor-showing, are they really thinking their e-mail app will be more-successful? With them desperately in-need of extra-revenue, especially with their search-deal with <em>Google</em> ending soon, is putting money into an e-mail app really a great idea?</p><p><br></p><p>The most-likely thing I’d expect to happen would be that some people who currently use <em>Thunderbird</em> on a desktop OS will consider using their mobile app, once available. But I cannot see it (1) making more people then use <em>Thunderbird</em> on a desktop OS, or (2) give <em>Firefox</em> on mobile or tablet a try.</p>
dftf
<p>Given <em>Firefox</em> already has a use-share on mobile and tablet platforms of 0.5% or lower, I’m struggling to see why a cash-strapped <em>Mozilla</em> thinks "let’s release an e-mail app" is a good-idea?</p><p><br></p><p>All of the major personal e-mail providers all have their own official apps (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo! Mail), and on <em>iOS</em> platforms you can use Apple’s built-in <em>Mail</em> app also. So… who is this for, other-than the crowd of people who use <em>Thunderbird</em> on a desktop or laptop currently, and might also therefore consider using the same app on their <em>Android </em>or <em>iOS/iPadOS</em> device?</p>