Mozilla and Google are expected to extend their current search deal for another three years, multiple sources have told ZDNet. The new search deal will ensure Google remains the default search engine provider inside the Firefox browser until 2023 at an estimated price tag of around $400 million to $450 million per year. Mozilla officials are expected to announce the search deal's extension later this fall, in November, when the organization is scheduled to disclose its 2019 financial figures. Terms of the new deal were leaked to this reporter after Mozilla announced plans to lay off more than 250 employees on Wednesday in a move that had many users fearing for the browser maker's future, as Mozilla's current Google search deal was scheduled to expire at the end of the year. However, several sources have confirmed that the organization is sound financially, and the layoffs were part of a restructuring of its core business, with Mozilla moving away from its current role of internet standards steward and experimental approach to its product catalog to more commercially-viable offerings that generate revenues on their own. Work on open standards and protocols will take a backseat to commercialization efforts in the short-term, but Mozilla doesn't plan to phase out its work in the web development community completely and will most likely come back to its role of web custodian once its subscription-based services ensure long-term business survivability. Current plans include shoring up and expanding its recently-launched VPN service and, maybe, dipping its toes into acquiring new tech ventures that could be seamlessly integrated into its product catalog as self-standing revenue-generating streams. Reached out for comment, a Mozilla spokesperson said the organization had nothing to comment at this point; however, in a response post-publication, Mozilla confirmed our report and provided the following statement: "Mozilla's search partnership with Google is ongoing, with Google as the default search provider in the Firefox browser in many places around the world. We've recently extended the partnership, and the relationship isn't changing." https://www.zdnet.com/article/sources-mozilla-expected-to-extend-its-google-... Giacomo