Normally, bookmarks, history, settings or preferences are stored locally; thanks to Mozilla Weave these features will be available worldwide via the Internet in future. In contrast to other providers such as Google Browser Sync or the Mac services by Apple, Mozilla Weave will "ensure that it is easy for people to set up their own services with freely available open standards-based tools, provide users with the ability to fully control and customize their online experience" say the developers. The developers compare the open project with the extensible Firefox architecture – programming interfaces and tools will be available free of charge to give third parties the ability to develop applications. As an example of an application, the developers mention collaborative planning of trips.
The project emphasizes that it will honor the privacy of personal data on the Internet: Mozilla Weave will let users specify "whether and how their data should be shared with their family, their friends, and third-parties". The central servers can synchronize this data with the local browser, or synchronize multiple different browsers at the same time. One of their major goals, say the developers, is to " respect individual privacy (e.g. client-side encryption by default with the ability to delegate access rights)".
Weave 0.1 was release December 21 as a prototype with some basic functionality for Linux, Windows and Mac OS, although it only works with the latest beta 2 version of Firefox 3 right now. In early 2008, Weave will enter phase two of its development where the first APIs for developers will be released.