Mozilla announced the decision to close the project related to the Mozilla Location Service (MLS), which provided location services based on cell-id and geoip data. The service enabled users to determine their approximate location on a map without relying on GPS or GLONAS.
Since 2019, the MLS had faced limitations due to allegations of patent violations by Skyhook Holdings. Mozilla reached an extrajudicial agreement limiting commercial API requests to 100 thousand per day, impacting projects like Sailfish and leading to decreased interest from Mozilla. Despite this, the MLS continued to be utilized in projects like microg and alternative Android builds.
The decline in location accuracy, lack of investment, and the discontinuation of the Mozstumbler program were cited as reasons for the project’s shutdown. The MLS database, which mapped coordinates to base stations and Wi-Fi networks, relied on contributions from enthusiasts using the mozstumbler app.
The Mozstumbler app, linked to older Firefox for Android versions, was not updated for newer platforms like Android 10. Data collection for the MLS dwindled, prompting Mozilla to outline a phased shutdown plan:
- Starting March 13, new API access keys will not be issued.
- From March 27, data retrieval and new data dumps via the API will cease.
- By April 10, all previous database dumps will be removed.
- On June 12, all API access keys, excluding Mozilla’s, will be deactivated.
- On July 31, the platform’s code repository will be archived on GitHub.