Firefox OS: Better and Cheaper than Android says Telefónica

Mozilla, the company highly known for developing one of the most successful internet browsers of all time, is soon to rival the mobile OS market. As early as 2013, we will be able to play with some hot, new smart phones with a different operating system.

So different in fact, Telefónica says that the OS will be even “better and cheaper” than its great competitor, Android. Matthew Key, Head of Telefónica Digital pointed out some flaws with Google mobile OS, including the massive delay in software updates for each of the Android’s divisions, as well as the “fragmentation” of the Google Play Store.

Key also addressed the large demand for the Android OS, and the impact is has on cellular production. The head of Telefónica has also obtained the European carrier “O2’s” support for the upcoming Firefox OS. It is suspected that the first “Firefox OS friendly device” will cost less, or around $100, according to Matthew Key’s presentation at the digital conference in London.

Other information clarifies that perhaps the first cellular manufacturer for the new OS will be ZTE. More importantly, the Mozilla teams focuses greatly to create the operating system with HTML-5. Which will hopefully, spark inspiration for future mobile development.

Even though that this will be hard task to develop a new OS that can rival Android, it will be interesting to see how Mozilla overcomes the obstacles in creating a truly spectacular software, with a whole new background.

What do you think of Mozilla’s plans to introduce Firefox Mobile OS? Do you think the ease of HTML-5 development will profit in more stable user applications? I would love to hear your comments.

Will Firefox OS change the face of smartphone operating systems?

by Robert Triggs, 2 weeks ago

The jury is still out on whether Firefox OS poses a legitimate threat to the mobile OS status-quo; many are writing it off for simply being too late to the party and others are quietly…

Comments

Benjamin Collins

The rise of a third, and fourth significant player would also create independant software start ups and already-players to make their products smooth for each, at the same time nudging the phone platform developers to perhaps agree to a HTML5-esgue standard, though far more robust and fluid. Competition begets innovation, we all win.
symbolset

I’m kind of excited about an Android Fridge that can organize my shopping list by the aisles in my favorite supermarket for my shopping convenience or maybe arrange delivery of the goods when it knows I’ll be home, Android lightbulbs I can control from my smartphone, Android security cams I can monitor from wherever I happen to be. I’m not real keen on the advantages of a third ecosystem, as I’m not going to participate in it.
MasterMuffin

Sailfish Os!

It’s going to be hard for devs if there is 3 or 4 major platforms. Like “Guest” here said, maybe devs will have to start making HTML5 apps
Java

If only the was some kind of cross platform language. A language that was free and well used. A language that could be used to build apps for all platforms. Oh well, we live in hope.
- Jelly Bean
  
  Yes, it’s called C.
  - williamworlde
    
    Pay attention to what you’re reading! It’s a rhetorical statement! Look at the writer’s name too; therein lies a clue! I’m just saying. Hmmm…..
    - Jelly Bean
      
      Java in a virtual machine in Android is, unfortunately, more hardware intensive than C in iOS, which requires almost half the hardware power to leverage the same performance. In this sense, C is (as much as I hate to say it) a better choice.
      - RealDev
        
        C code is reusable between platforms but its absolutely not platform independent, and compilers are very much platform dependent. Dont know where you got this crap from but i an tell that you never done professional programming beyond PHP or CSS lol
      - Jelly Bean
        
        lol @ your name. I’m a professional developer, actually, so I think I know what I’m talking about.
Simon Price

I like options they are great… Good morning son what would you like to wear today your black or grey jumper, can I wear a yellow one mum….. What’s yellow son?… Do ya get me
hoggleboggle

a third platform would be brilliant, ideally with an even 1/3 split between them. the only platform i can see doing that though is windows mobiile.
JFS Coertzen

Problem with making HTML5 based mobile apps is that the core components in the OS that the app is interfacing with has to be re-written for that specific platform. An example is when a mobile application wants to write files to the sd-card. You can use frameworks like Phonegap but the “plugin” to write the files has to be ported to the individual platforms. This makes it increasingly difficult and I vote for 2 major platforms at max. The other guys that wants to jump on the bandwaggon is just too late.
- nishantsirohi123
  
  But this is much simpler in terms of programming, even a single person can do it
  porting apps from iOS to android or vice versa is in fact much more complicated.
williamworlde

I think multiple ecosystems are good. That way, there is no monopoly by any one organization and there is healthy competition obviously meaning a better experience for consumers. Right now we have:

Apple iOS: Closed and haven’t innovated anything in smartphones for 7 years! Don’t confuse improvements with innovations. Of course, I’m being a bit glib here, but hopefully you’ll get the point.

Google Android: Very open, but I trust Google the least of all because though I like “free”, Google’s free comes at an exorbitant price! Google was built as an advertising company. If you don’t know ANYTHING about advertisers, at least know this: They’d sell their mothers to sell their products! Just imagine what they’d do to you!

Microsoft Windows: This company just keeps reinventing itself with its seemingly bottomless wealth of resources. I think they are capable of good things. They MUST listen to their customers though. We have advanced too far in our grasp of technology to accept, “Here, take this, it’s good for you.” anymore.

Ubuntu: Developers/Extreme Power Users/Power Users?

One or Two more: From anyone; it doesn’t matter to me.

More than 5 or 6: Like Symbian, etc., they will fall by the wayside.
th3d

I have faith in Firefox OS for lower end devices, that could be the big third. Sony has already said they will launch devices, if they make a reasonable specced device with an LED flash then i will buy, for sure. Not for my main device, just additional, from what i seen of FFOS i am sure i will enjoy it and it will see some usage.
nishantsirohi123

This is essential as competition is always a good thing

Yes WP, BB10, firefox…all these should thrive(don’t know about Ubuntu but it sure looks pretty on mobile)

I got the whole idea behind the web apps used in firefox OS, best part is you can actually get lightweight apps in it.

I wonder if it will support whatsapp and other apps
madjr

monoply is bad, but doupoly is not that great either.

imagine just the playstation and xbox….

glad there’s also nintendo.

in the desktop we had only windows, but Mac and now Linux is gaining a lot of users who are not afraid to try new things.

In fact indies and games are now doing very well and gaining a lot of popularity within linux users.

Also look at browsers. we have 3 big players now and that has kept all of them with their feet on the ground.

So yes, I believe a third platform. Am specially excited about Ubuntu-touch and the work they’re doing for a cool converged future where mobile devices will be able to do much more.