Internet brand name Mozilla, known primarily for its Web browser Mozilla Firefox, may soon be largely associated with smartphones and tablets too - following the release of its own mobile ecosystem.
Mozilla announced this week it plans to launch a new, fully open operating system (OS), based on HTML5. According to the official Mozilla blog, the OS will use its Firefox brand and is built on Mozilla's “Boot to Gecko” project, which the company says unlocks many of the current limitations of Web development on mobile. “[The Mozilla Firefox OS will allow] HTML5 applications to access the underlying capabilities of a phone, previously only available to native applications.”
Mozilla says it expects to launch the first Firefox OS-powered devices early next year, in Brazil - through Telef'onica's commercial brand Vivo. “Telef'onica's Digital unit joined forces with Mozilla earlier this year to take this work and showcase a new phone architecture, where every phone feature (calling, messaging, games, etc) is an HTML5 application.”
Global support
According to Mozilla, a host of leading operators have indicated they would back the new OS as a new entrant to the smartphone market. These include Deutsche Telekom (Germany), Etisalat (United Arab Emirates), Smart (Ireland), Sprint (US), Telecom Italia (Italy), Telef'onica (Spain) and Telenor (Norway).
On Monday, Chinese device manufacturers TCL Communication Technology (under the Alcatel One Touch brand) and ZTE announced their intentions to manufacture the first devices that will feature Mozilla's new Firefox OS.
Entry-level advantage
Emerging markets will benefit from the new OS, says Mozilla, due to the optimisation of the platform for entry-level smartphones and “the removal of middleware layers”. The non-profit organisation says mobile operators will have the ability to offer richer experiences at a range of price points, including at the low end of the smartphone price range. “[This will] help to drive adoption across developing markets.”
Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs says the introduction of an open OS is in line with the company's mission to promote opportunity on the Web for users and developers alike. “As billions of users are expected to come online for the first time in the coming years, it is important to deliver a compelling smartphone experience that anyone can use.”
Kovacs says the number of operators and manufacturers who have pledged support for Mozilla's effort will bring “additional resources and diversity” to the company's global offerings.
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