On Sunday, Mozilla announced that it had managed to sign up 18 network operators to try one of the phones running its Firefox OS. Apparently this number has grown already, and there are now 19 adventurous carriers willing to give it a try.
Our colleagues from Gizmodo Germany have interviewed Christian Heilmann, principal developer evangelist at Mozilla, to find out more about the OS and what makes it different from market leaders Android and iOS.
Announced in 2012, Firefox OS (previously known as Boot to Gecko) is an open source operating system for phones and tablets. According to Heilmann, it looks “like any other operating system for a mobile device”, except it is made entirely in HTML5.
The system was designed primarily for developing markets, with its very basic hardware requirements and tools to minimise expenses related to data consumption. First countries to try Firefox OS include Brazil, Colombia, Hungary, Mexico, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia, Spain and Venezuela, with phones made by ZTE, Alcatel and LG.
Heilmann says the carriers like the system because it enables carrier billing for apps, and doesn’t tie them up with senseless Terms and Conditions.
To find out more, watch the video below:
What do you know about the Mobile World Congress? Take our quiz!
German foreign minister warns Russia will face consequences for “absolutely intolerable” cyberattack on ruling party,…
Google is reportedly laying off at least 200 staff from its “Core” organisation, including key…
Investor appeasement? Apple unveils huge $110 billion share buyback program, as sales of iPhone decline…
Tesla retreats from pioneering gigacasting manufacturing process, amid cost cutting and challenges at EV giant
No skynet please. After the US, UK and France pledge human only control of nuclear…
Microsoft's AI investments continue in south east Asia, after investments in Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, as…