ZTE Firefox OS Smartphone To Debut In Early 2013

ZTE plans to release a smartphone running the web-based mobile operating system Firefox OS later this year or in early 2013, according to a report from Reuters.

The world’s fourth largest mobile phone manufacturer is cooperating with Mozilla to launch the platform, saying that it wants to decrease its dependence on Google’s Android and Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8. It does however plan to continue supporting the two operating systems.

ZTE FireFox OS

The Chinese manufacturer recently released the Windows Phone-based ZTE Tania and earlier this month announced the Intel-based ZTE Grand X IN which is powered by version 4.0 of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich.

ZTE has been looking at web-based operating systems for some time and will begin rolling out Firefox OS over the next few months. It currently has no intention of supporting similar systems from Chinese Internet companies Baidu and Alibaba.

Firefox OS is being aimed at emerging markets and was born out of the desire to create an alternative mobile platform. The attraction of Firefox OS is that applications only need to be developed in HTML5, making it easier for developers to create and port the apps to support its mobile ecosystem.

Telefonica is a key partner of the project and plans to release a Firefox OS phone in Brazil next year, citing its desire to become more independent of the Android platform. Numerous manufacturers of Android devices have been the subject of lawsuits from Apples over alleged patent infringement.

Other confirmed partners include Deutsche Telekom, Sprint, Smart Telecom Italia, Telenor and Etisalat.

ZTE was unable to respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.

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