In an obvious attempt to increase its revenue stream, Mozilla has announced the release of Thunderbird Pro, a new subscription-based email client.
Thunderbird Pro is still in the early-bird stage, meaning that, at this time, potential users must first join a waiting list. According to the Thunderbird Pro product page, this new email service includes the following benefits:
- Access to Pro-only features – Send and Appointment
- 30 GB of Mail Storage
- 300 GB of Send Storage
- 15 Email Addresses
- 3 Custom Domains
Mozilla describes Thunderbird Pro’s core features as follows:
- Thundermail: Send/receive email with a privacy-protecting host and the latest mail standards like JMAP. Choose a Thundermail domain or bring your own
- Appointment: Instead of exchanging multiple messages to schedule a meeting, select your availability and let Appointment handle the rest. Powered by open standards and compatible with Google Calendar and CalDAV
- Send: Share large files with end-to-end encryption and fewer limits. Send provides a natural file attachment experience in Thunderbird Desktop and is compatible with any recipient’s inbox
In addition, Mozilla guarantees that Thunderbird Pro won’t track users, use advertising networks, sell user data, or display ads.
Thunderbird Pro Pricing
The early bird price for Thunderbird Pro is $9,00 per month paid annually – $108 per year. Mozilla claims that the early bird subscriptions will be used to finance new services, development, and security features. It’s important to note that this is not the pricing for the final product, which remains unknown at this stage.
BOTTOM LINE:
I’m not sure if Thunderbird Pro is attractive enough to sway home users away from their current email service, especially with the ongoing cost. I do like the sound of the “Send” feature, and the “Appointment” feature would appeal in corporate/enterprise situations.
I suspect that Thunderbird Pro’s customer base might mainly consist of companies and organizations. Perhaps not so many home users.
What do you think? Would you subscribe to Thunderbird Pro?
—
