Mozilla to release Firefox OS for mobile market

Mozilla are planning to release the FireFox Operating System, based entirely on HTML 5 and open web standards. The plan is to unlock many restrictions of mobile Web development.

Mozilla aim to target the emerging markets, starting with Brazil in 2013. They posted a blog yesterday to say that the new OS will power the launch of a new breed of smartphones built entirely to open web standards. They say that the basic capabilities of the device, such as calling, gaming and messaging can be developed as HTML 5 applications.

Gary Kovacs, CEO of Mozilla said in the blog “The introduction of the open mobile OS continues the Mozilla mission to promote opennes, innovation and opportunity on the Web for users and developers. 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.”

The project has already gathered the support of operators such as Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Smart, Sprint, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, and Telenor.

ZTE and TCL Communication also said that they would manufacture the first Firefox OS devices using Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors. These should launch commercially in Brazil early 2013 through Vivo.

You can read the full blog report over here.

Kitguru says: It sounds like a compelling project, especially for emerging markets.

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