Mobile/SendTabTo

Tracking

• Epic bug 1098303
• Meta for Fennec bug 1098307

Goals

To provide the ability to users to easily and explicitly send an open tab from one Firefox instance to another Firefox instance in real-time. This functionality should provide extra utility to users who have Firefox Accounts and wish to send information quickly and easily between their Firefox screens.

This should increase Firefox usage (measured in usage hours) and increase the instances of Firefox Accounts as users become aware of this service.

Success Criteria

• Increase in Firefox usage hours, positive SUMO feedback and increased Firefox Accounts

Product Requirements

This feature provides the user an explicit and controlled action to send themselves a tab to an appropriate Firefox instance. For example, a user who has found restaurant directions on their Desktop or Android tablet and is running out the door. Or the user who has found an interesting article on their phone and wants to push that to the bigger Desktop or Tablet screen.

This is different from passively syncing Open Tabs in terms of use case and expectation. This is an active choice prompted by an immediate need.

Use case: I want to be able to send a tab easily from my desktop to my mobile and know it gets there in real-time.

• Illustration: On my desktop, I have found the webpage of a restaurant I am going to where I am planning to meet up with friends. I want to send that page directly to my mobile so I have it handy as I'm heading out the door in case I need to show it to the taxi driver or need the information when I'm out and about.
• Illustration: I have pulled up map directions from maps.google.co.uk to this coffee shop a 10 mins walk from the office. I want to send this tab to my mobile and have the installed Google Maps application pick it up so it can provide me real-tine walking directions.
• Illustration: I am reading this really interesting Wikipedia entry I had added to my Reading List on my desktop. But it's time I get ready to head out the door to catch the bus to school so I send it to my mobile. Because the bus is a tad bumpy, I'm really grateful I can use Firefox [Reader!] for the best reading experience possible!

Use case: I want to be able to send a tab easily from my mobile to my desktop and know it gets there in real-time.

• Illustration: I have found this wicked article on my mobile that I would much rather read on my desktop (larger screen), so I want to send that page directly to my desktop as I sit back down to my desktop.

Integrated into Firefox Accounts Service

• Provide the ability to send tabs to any Firefox instance that is attached to a user's Firefox Account

Use case: As a user, I want to be able to send open tabs explicitly and immediately to another one of my Firefox accounts.

• Illustration: I have this tab I want to send to another one of my Firefox screens for convenience and I want to be able to pick & choose from any Firefox instance I have registered with my Firefox Account.

Receiving a tab

• Receipt of a tab from another Firefox instance (such as desktop, phone, or tablet):
  • Provide a visual notification to the user
  • Provide the ability to open the tab with one tap

Sending a tab

• Originating from the user’s browser, send a tab to another Firefox instance
  • Provide the ability for the receiving Firefox instance to be notified that something was pushed to it
  • Be able to intuitively choose the correct Firefox instance the user wishes to send the tab to
  • Receipt should be in real-time (matter of seconds, dependent on network / wifi)