Mozilla launched Tuesday a company that is completely focused on its alternative e-mail client, while also announcing features planned for the next version of it.

Operating as a subsidiary, Mozilla Messaging will focus on development of Mozilla's e-mail strategies, chiefly Thunderbird. Like its predecessor, the client will still remain open source.

Although the exact size of the subsidiary was not disclosed, a statement from Mozilla said a "small product development team" will work in conjunction with Thunderbird's community of contributors to push the client forward.

"Every one of us is committed to building a great email product that people will love to use and that serves as the foundation for choice in a critical area of Internet software," Ascher said in a statement.

Thunderbird 3 will include significant improvements over its predecessor, including an improved search and user experience. In addition it will include integrated calendaring to put it on a more even keel with offerings such as Outlook.