Many people were longing to see a phone running Firefox OS and guess what? Your wish just came true. Geeksphone is delivering non-developers a new Firefox OS in its new line of smartphones named Peak+. For those of you who haven’t been following the news, Firefox OS is a mobile operating system based on open web standards The OS intends to prove mobile web as a method of monetization and a model for consumption just like Android or iOS, but remaining within the confinements of Web Applications.
Most of you might have started thinking how is Firefox going to compete with the saturated market of Android and iOS; well guess what, it’s not. The platform is not intended to go into the high-end markets, or at least, not now. Its goal is to replace the operating systems in market that lack access to high-end phones (beginning with Geeksphone perhaps?). And of course, its goal is to create an app development environment that completely utilizes existing web development technology. There is no new language or tricks that web developers need to master.
So how will the app listing work in the OS? Well, you could either list your application in a closed marketplace, much like how Android and iOS work. Or you could allow the user to download the app with a simple “install from web” feature in your own website. The cake for the developers here is that all the hard work they spent in search engine optimizing their website over the last couple of years can be utilized to market their new app.
For the users, finding an application is always an issue; the search needs to be specific to find an app. Firefox OS deals with this issue by creating an intelligent search. You can find apps based on topics that you search. If you search music it will lead you to grooveshark etcetera.
With a new operating system perhaps the most interesting part is the application development, and Firefox doesn’t disappoint in that department. Basically it’s not just a mobile application development, it’s more of a web app development. You develop an app for the web, using standard web development tools and procedures and Firefox will allow you to access the hardware of the phone using Web APIs.
Although Firefox faces a lot of competition in the market, the silver lining for the OS is the option it provides to the carriers that don’t come when dealing with giants like Apple. Mozilla is not in a strong negotiating position, and the carriers can make the deals on their terms, something they don’t get very often.
Will Firefox OS hold its ground in the strong competition, only time will tell. Firefox was recently launched in Latin America and the future of the brand will be predicted based on its performance there.
Ali Kareem
About the Guest Author:
Ali Kareem is a 19 year old tech geek who loves to write on technical stuff. He loves to write reviews especially on Games and Movies. He has been doing freelancing for different technical websites and praised by many professional bloggers. Writing is his hobby and programming is his passion. If you would like to meet him then ping him on ali.kareem.raja@gmail.com
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