L10n:Firefox/Productization

Web Services Guidelines

Web services in Firefox are those localizable functional areas within the browser, specifically, Live Bookmark (RSS Feed), Search Plug-Ins, and Protocol Handlers (RSS Readers, Web Mail* and Web Calendar*)

We believe that localization teams are in the best position to provide recommendations on what local providers we can use for Web Services because you're in the market, work in the language, and know your users. This is, therefore, meant a guideline for how you should be formulating your recommendations.

Please note, the deadline for recommendations for Firefox 3 is Beta 3 (mid January)

Live Bookmark Our goal for including an RSS feed in the live bookmark is to demonstrate the dynamic, changing and relevant content. We would suggest you choose something your users are interested in and that is locally relevant.

Search There are typically six search plug ins listed.

Generic search The default option should expose the quickest path to the best result on the world wide web for the user (indexing a large portion of the global www). Global search. The second position can be used for the next best local language provider, meaning, coverage within the local language and/or locale (indexing a smaller portion of the www but producing better local language results). Local search. A good test is if you were to run a set of comparative queries; the secondary engine should produce the best local language results and the primary/default position should produce the best global results

e-Commerce search These search engines should allow users to get connected to new and used products they want to buy as quickly and painlessly as possible in a "trusted" site. For example choosing the most popular auction, general shopping, or classified type sites that have the desired user experience are good choices. There should be no more than two.

Specific interest search Where user are using popular search engine's to search more specific areas of interest that are very popular in your language or locale. There should be no more than two.

In all cases user experience should be taken into account and given preference for what is desired in that language/locale. if you have questions about what that means, please contact Mic@mozilla.com or Mic on IRC.

Protocol handlers They should be translated in your language (because it makes the application unusable if it's not in your language), provide for the user experience intended for (e.g., minimal to no advertisements within the user experience), and no more than 3 (if possible) choices. Choosing based on popularity is fine.

If there is no localized choice, then it is up to your discretion if we provide an english alternative or none at all.

Some examples from en-US:

Web Service	Provider	Rationale
Live Bookmark	BBC	news is generally relevant and interesting and changes quickly. Lately we've looked at BBC feeds that are science/nature and/or technology feeds.
Global search	Google	Best user experience and broadest results
e-Commerce Search	Amazon	Broad set of products, simple search interface with no/limited advertising, popular shopping engine
Specific interest	Wikipedia	Good user experience (no ads, simple interface), popular site
RSS Reader	Bloglines	Popular, minimal advertising, simple interface

These guidelines are new for Firefox 3. After launch we intend to review the usefulness of these guidelines in providing you with valuable guidance to make good user recommendations in your languages and locales.

For additional information try these links:

Firefox 3 L10n Requirements

L10n home page

'*' New for Firefox 3