WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Firefox smartphone operating system is being
shut down, three years after a launch aimed at challenging the
dominant platforms powered by Apple and Google, developers said on
Thursday.
The operating system created by the Mozilla developer community as
an open-source system failed to gain traction in mobile devices,
according to a statement from Mozilla developer George Roter.
"Through the work of hundreds of contributors we made an awesome
push and created an impressive platform in Firefox OS," he said in
a blog post.
"However, as we announced in December, the circumstances of
multiple established operating systems and app ecosystems meant
that we were playing catch-up, and the conditions were not there
for Mozilla to win on commercial smartphones."
Roter said Mozilla has set "our plan to end-of-life support for
smartphones after the Firefox OS 2.6 release" which means that
"Firefox OS for smartphones will no longer have staff involvement
beyond May."
In 2013, Mozilla announced a tie-up with Spanish-based GeeksPhone
to introduce two low-cost devices powered by Firefox.
Firefox devices made by China's ZTE and TCL were announced in 2014
at a cost as low as US$25 (S$35).
Roter said Mozilla made the decision as part of a push "to pivot
from 'Firefox OS' to 'connected devices'" and would be focusing on
developing open-source software for the Internet of Things - a
category which includes everything from connected cars to
lightbulbs.
"As of today, we have three projects that have passed the first
gate including (a) smart TV and about a dozen more projects are
prepping for review," he said.
ST