Firefox OS


Firefox OS[4] (project name: Boot to Gecko, also known as B2G)[5] is a Linux kernel-based open-source operating system for smartphones, tablet computers[6] and smart TVs.[7][8] It is being developed by Mozilla, the non-profit organization best known for the Firefox web browser. Firefox OS is designed to provide a complete,[9] community-based alternative system for mobile devices, using open standards and approaches such as HTML5 applications, JavaScript, a robust privilege model, open web APIs to communicate directly with cellphone hardware,[5] and application marketplace. As such, it competes with commercially developed operating systems such as Apple's iOS, Google's Android, Microsoft's Windows Phone,[9] BlackBerry's BlackBerry 10 and Jolla's Sailfish OS. Firefox OS was publicly demonstrated in February 2012, on Android-compatible smartphones.[10][11] In January 2013, at CES 2013, ZTE confirmed they would be shipping a smartphone with Firefox OS,[12] and on July 2, 2013, Telefónica launched the first commercial Firefox OS based phone, ZTE Open, in Spain[13][14] which was quickly followed by GeeksPhone's Peak+.[15] As of December 16, 2014, Firefox OS phones are offered by 14 operators in 28 countries throughout the world.[16] Mozilla has also partnered with T2Mobile to make a Firefox OS reference phone dubbed "Flame" which is designed for developers to contribute to Firefox OS and to test apps.[17]