Mozilla renames Boot to Gecko FireFox Mobile OS and adds new vendors/carriers

We initially saw Mozilla’s Boot to Gecko project revealed nearly a year ago in late July, and today Mozilla has updated everyone on the progress. If you are unfamiliar with the B2G project, it is Mozilla’s attempt at entering the mobile OS market with its own operating system based on HTML5/JavaScript.

To start things off, Mozilla has announced that B2G will now be known as FireFox Mobile OS. They have also revealed the new carriers that will support the OS: In addition to Telefonica and T-Mobile, who both both had previously pledged their support, Etisalat, Smart, Sprint, Telecom Italia, and Telenor have joined the party.

As for hardware, ZTE and Alcatel will both make FireFox Mobile OS devices. Qualcomm will provide Snapdragon processors for the phones according to Mozilla, although it will likely be the S3 chip as opposed to the S4, which may make the device too expensive for the price point that Mozilla is hoping for. The first FireFox Mobile OS device will launch in Brazil in early 2013 under Telefonica’s local carrier, Vivo.

Mozilla can definitely make a big splash in the entry-level market with its new mobile OS. They have picked to enter a market in which they will have less competition, especially after Nokia got rid of Meltemi OS. They would really only be competing with Android and Windows Phone 7, which both have yet to fully grasp the low-range device market and are more focused on the high-end range. If everything goes as planned for Mozilla OS wise and they continue to gain the support of other carriers and manufacturers, they may have a winning formula on hand.

 

Dakota Torres
Categories: Cellphones
Tags: Mozilla