Alcatel ONE TOUCH FIRE Firefox OS phone hands-on

Does the world need another smartphone platform? Mozilla thinks so, and so Firefox OS will make its co-debut on the Alcatel ONE TOUCH FIRE, a new affordable handset targeted at the same market entry-level Android occupies. As you might expect from the positioning, it’s not the most highly-specified phone: a 3.5-inch screen and 1GHz processor. Read The Full Story

Mozilla planning a Chrome OS-like operating system for phones and tablets

The jury is still out on whether Chromebooks will sell like hotcakes (we're guessing not), but no matter to Mozilla. The organization behind Firefox has plans to develop its own operating system for mobile devices -- a clear shot across the bow at Google's browser-based Chrome OS. In a page on Mozilla's own wiki, a handful of senior developers announced their intentions to create a "complete, standalone operating system for the open web" running HTML5 apps. The OS, codenamed "Boot to Gecko," will be designed with tablets and handsets in mind, says Mike Shaver, the foundation's VP of technical strategy. And here's the fascinating part: the OS will rely on Google's own Android drivers and kernel to boot the device. In a Google Groups discussion thread, the lead devs said they chose Android over a Linux stack since so many device makers have focused their efforts on Android, and it makes sense to "reuse its lower layers." Still, they insist that they otherwise intend to borrow from it as little as possible. Obviously, don't hold your breath for Firebooks, as the project's very much in its infancy, but in the meantime there's some mighty interesting conversation happening in that discussion thread about Mozilla's lofty end game: breaking "the stranglehold of proprietary devices over the mobile device world."

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Mozilla planning a Chrome OS-like operating system for phones and tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink SiliconFilter  |  Mozilla (wiki), (Google Groups forum)  | Email this | Comments

Mozilla and Foxconn Are Reportedly Building a Firefox Tablet

Mozilla is teaming up with Taiwanese company Hon Hai Precision Industry — better known as Foxconn — to launch a new device running the Firefox OS.Mozilla confirmed the partnership to Reuters and although the company wouldn't share the exact nature of the device, it is believed to be a tablet. Mozilla is expected to unveil the plans at Focus Taiwan on June 3.Mozilla has already signed partnerships with Alcatel (TCL), Huawei, ZTE and LG for Firefox phones but this would be its first tablet initiative.Foxconn makes most of its money from Apple but is reportedly looking to diversify its customer base. It already makes Android devices but this would be its first foray into the Firefox OS space. Read more...More about Mozilla, Tablets, Foxconn, Ios, and Tech

Firefox OS Marketplace leaks in current form, shows shopping Gecko-style

Mozilla has been seeding Firefox OS to eager developers for some time. However, we've largely been denied a peek at how the developer's own take on a mobile app store will play out on an actual device. Some of that picture just filled out thanks to some images of the mobile Firefox Marketplace that have landed in Engadget's hands. From what we've seen of the current store, it's a significant break from the top-level storefront we saw back in the Boot to Gecko days, not to mention Mozilla Marketplace on the desktop. The deeper exploration shows a minimalist store that's focused on quickly delving into individual categories rather than an abundance of highlighted apps. We're not seeing any startling revelations -- there's only free apps visible in these early images, for example -- but the gallery is proof that Mozilla is well on its way to fleshing out the core of its OS for a launch next year. Let's just hope that the rest of the software moves at a similarly quick pace. Gallery: Marketplace in Firefox OS during developmentFiled under: Cellphones, MobileFirefox OS Marketplace leaks in current form, shows shopping Gecko-style originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Sony Mobile has 'an ambition' to launch Firefox OS device in 2014

Despite what your feelings may be about Firefox OS, various OEMs and carriers are clearly content with having more options to explore. The latest outfit appears to be Sony's Mobile entity, which, earlier today, announced it had reached a multi-year deal with Telefónica that will "explore the development" of a device running Mozilla's novel operating system. What's more, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head of Products Business Group, Bob Ishida, says Sony Mobile engineers are already working on a project with the new mobile OS on the block, adding that the eventual goal is to "bring a product to market in 2014." Now, whether we'll see higher-end slabs than some of the ones we've experienced thus far, well, dear readers, that remains to be seen.Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, MobileCommentsVia: The Next WebSource: Telefónica

Could Euro Carriers Be Planning Their Own Mobile OS?

An interesting piece in the Mobile Business Briefing points to the possibility that European carriers like Orange, T-Mobile, and Vodafone could be working together to build their own OS, possibly following the China Mobile model of creating their own flavor of Android far-removed from the official Google code.

Take a look at this amazing quote:

French newspaper Le Figaro has reported that Stephane Richard, chief executive officer of France Telecom-Orange, has invited the heads of Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica and Vodafone to discuss the possible creation of a common platform for mobile devices. The talks, which are scheduled to take place October 8th in Paris, are motivated by a view that Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating systems have become a “Trojan horse” for these companies to establish their own relationships with mobile customers, reducing the significance of the operators in the value chain.

Could Euro Carriers Be Planning Their Own Mobile OS?

An interesting piece in the Mobile Business Briefing points to the possibility that European carriers like Orange, T-Mobile, and Vodafone could be working together to build their own OS, possibly following the China Mobile model of creating their own flavor of Android far-removed from the official Google code.

Take a look at this amazing quote:

French newspaper Le Figaro has reported that Stephane Richard, chief executive officer of France Telecom-Orange, has invited the heads of Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica and Vodafone to discuss the possible creation of a common platform for mobile devices. The talks, which are scheduled to take place October 8th in Paris, are motivated by a view that Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating systems have become a “Trojan horse” for these companies to establish their own relationships with mobile customers, reducing the significance of the operators in the value chain.

Firefox OS heading to Brazil, Mexico, Poland, Spain and more; Huawei device coming soon

Not content with a simple Deutsche Telecom announcement, Mozilla's using Mobile World Congress as a platform to launch its mobile operating system in a slew of markets. Rolling out in waves, the first round of devices featuring Firefox OS include the likes of Brazil, Colombia, Hungary, Mexico, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia, Spain and Venezuela, with more markets soon, according to the company. The first round of handsets include devices by Alcatel, LG and ZTE. Mozilla also let slip news of a forthcoming handset from Huawei, who just capped up their own MWC press conference. As you'd expect, there's a whole slew of carriers on board. You can find the list in the release after the break.Filed under: Cellphones, MobileComments

The People That Brought You Firefox Are Building An Alternative To Android and iPhone

Mozilla, the organization best known for its Firefox browser, wants to do for mobile phones what the browser is doing for PCs: make the operating system obsolete. At the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, Mozilla today said it has signed on some heavy hitters for its Boot to Gecko project, which uses industry-standard HTML5 to run applications. The first mobile devices to use Boot to Gecko instead of other options, like Android, will be available in 2012. In a blog post, Mozilla explained: "Telefónica revealed their intention to work with us to deliver the very first open Web devices in 2012. These devices, architected entirely on the Web and built based on an HTML5 stack with powerful Web APIs, will mean significant advances in speed and cost reduction for mobile devices in the future." Deutsche Telekom has also agreed to help develop Boot to Gecko. There have been many attempts to knock Google from its perch as the leading developer of an open source mobile operating system. Intel has been trying for years, first with its failed partnership with Nokia to develop Meego and now with another project called Tizen, backed by the Linux Foundation and supported by Samsung. Meanwhile HP has some limp-wristed plans for webOS, too. But Mozilla's news marks the first open source alternative to Android that will result in devices sold by a carrier. Telefónica isn't just Spain's mega-carrier, either. Its reportedly the third largest carrier in the world with a network that spans 25 countries in Europe and Latin America. Should Project Gecko devices prove popular with its users, that would be catapult the Android/iPhone alternative onto the world stage in a hurry. Please follow SAI on Twitter and Facebook.Join the conversation about this story »See Also:Meg Whitman On Android: Google Can't Be TrustedAndy Rubin Is Full Of It -- It Would Be EASY For Google To Give Motorola An EdgeHere's How Facebook Is Bypassing Google For Mobile Apps

Mozilla Is Building An Open Source 'Firefox' Phone (GOOG)

Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox web browser, is launching an open-source mobile operating system for smartphones. It'll use the Firefox brand, and the first phone will be manufactured by TCL Communication Technology. The phone will launch on a big number of global networks, including Sprint. It's an operating system that will be based on HTML 5, a web-based development language that powers applications that run in mobile browsers. The first Firefox phone will launch commercially in Brazil in early 2013. There's no word on a U.S. launch date. It's built on Mozilla's "Boot to Gecko" project, which will be adapted so that all of its phone features are HTML 5 applications. Like Android, the Firefox mobile operating system will be open source — meaning developers will be able to access any and all information about the operating system they need to build killer apps. Firefox and Mozilla are absolute darlings in the developer community. So, today's announcement should have Google and Apple at least a little concerned. Please follow SAI on Twitter and Facebook.Join the conversation about this story »