Mozilla's Messaging team and the Mozilla Labs team will be merged in order to increase their effectiveness, Mozilla has announced.

Currently the Mozilla Messaging produces Thunderbird and messaging innovations such as Raindrop and F1. The second team is within Mozilla Labs, and has been working on identity, contacts and related topics.

Mozilla intends to combine the two teams to increase their effectiveness. Practically this means they'll be integrating Mozilla Messaging with Mozilla Labs. David Ascher will lead a new innovation group within Mozilla Labs focused on online communications and social interactions on the Web. After the teams merge into Mozilla Labs, Mozilla will dissolve Mozilla Messaging in order to simplify the overall structure.

The Thunderbird team will continue to develop and release Thunderbird from its new home within the combined organization and David Ascher will continue to oversee our Thunderbird product, said Mitchell Baker, Chair of the Mozilla Foundation.