Sony hopes to release Firefox OS phone in 2014

Sony Mobile has announced at MWC 2013 in Barcelona, that it is hoping to release in 2014 a handset powered by the open source Firefox OS. The Japanese manufacturer said that it would be producing the model in cooperation with mobile carrier Telefonica, Already, there are versions of smartphones running on the Firefox OS produced by ZTE, Alcatel and Geeksphone, each of which were displayed on a video that accompanied an earlier story about the HTML5 based software. Each of those models have a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor under the hood. Other manufacturers that have expressed an interest in Firefox OS include LG and Huawei.

A ZTE branded handset running Firefox OS

According to Firefox CEO Gary Kovacs, the initial wave of smartphones running on Firefox OS will launch in Europe. The OS is expected to make its way on new phones invading the U.S. in 2014, according to Kovacs. A list of mobile operators planning on offering Firefox OS phones includes one U.S. carrier, Sprint. The complete list mentions America Movil, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Hutchison Three Group, KDDI, KT, MegaFon, Qtel, SingTel, Smart, Sprint, Telecom Italia Group, Telefonica, Telenor, TMN and VimpelCom.

If Sony does produce a Firefox OS model, don't expect something along the lines of the Sony Xperia Z. The OS is being used in low to mid-range models, keeping the phones affordable for those in emerging markets.

"Our engineers are now working with Firefox OS Mobile and HTML5, evolving technologies which show great potential. In addition, we continue to work with our operator partners, including Telefónica, on a development project with an ambition to bring a product to market in 2014."-Bob Ishida, Sony Mobile Communications' Products Business Group

source: CNET

23 Comments

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posted on 26 Feb 2013, 04:23 10

1. Suster.Ngesot (Posts: 3; Member since: 25 Feb 2013)

WOW...

Sony do a FireFoxOS, but NOT WP...
It's really a bitch slap to Microsoft and Baldy Balmer.

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 05:41

7. jsdechavez (Posts: 758; Member since: 20 Jul 2012)

Sony should make WP instead. Much like they did with the iconic X1 and X2, the original Xperia.

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 07:51

17. SonyXperiaNexus (Posts: 374; Member since: 01 Oct 2012)

maybe they are not doing it coz microsoft is trying to promote xbox through wp and sony is doing the same thing with the playstation certification.

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 09:09

19. InspectorGadget80 (unregistered)

Yes youre right cause sony dont see any1 buyn any windows phone latley not too mention their greedy law suits against android. Sony is a company whos open up too other os that will drive sales.

posted on 27 Feb 2013, 19:50

23. ZeroCide (Posts: 785; Member since: 09 Jan 2013)

This is till 2014. There could be a few windows phones in the works between now and then.

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 04:56 2

2. tusshharish (Posts: 342; Member since: 23 Oct 2012)

sony put firefox os in tipo dual and sell it ....lol...

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 05:09 1

3. emadshiny (Posts: 1144; Member since: 05 Dec 2012)

i think Sony must go for Ubuntu.
Ubuntu has more potential to threat Android.

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 05:17

4. wendygarett (unregistered)

Keywords: thread android, thats why sony refuses to flamebait his partner :)

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 05:44

9. emadshiny (Posts: 1144; Member since: 05 Dec 2012)

but they must choose an OS which has more capabilities in order to attract the customer, and i think Ubuntu has more potential to do so.

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 05:39

5. nikenturd (unregistered)

It will be overpriced as usual

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 05:41

6. jsdechavez (Posts: 758; Member since: 20 Jul 2012)

and won't sell well..

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 05:42 3

8. emadshiny (Posts: 1144; Member since: 05 Dec 2012)

and you'll remain butthurt as usual

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 05:55 1

10. nikenturd (unregistered)

SONY is so yesterday....get over it fanboy...their last great product ( innovative) was the Playstation 1....has been irrelevant since....other than walkmans and discmans, they never really made something worthwhile

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 06:02 2

11. emadshiny (Posts: 1144; Member since: 05 Dec 2012)

so would you please introduce the most innovative brand of the world?
there is no doubt that Sony is among the pioneers of digital world and will remain as before.
butthurt fanboys like you can't accept it.

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 06:12

12. nikenturd (unregistered)

They pioneered things that was great in the 80'90's....but since we are talking about NOW, I guess you argument is completely pointless since Sony is just playing catch up for awhile now.....no matter what they do, people will just shy away due to their incompetitive pricing

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 06:24 1

13. tahnik (Posts: 189; Member since: 17 Jul 2011)

Well,Sony was at a stack when tsunami hit them and they lost 6 factories in Japan....
That was the only chance of Samsung and they used the chance very well...

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 06:27

14. emadshiny (Posts: 1144; Member since: 05 Dec 2012)

so you didn't name the pioneer at the present time.

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 12:21 1

21. InspectorGadget80 (unregistered)

and youre blind as usual. SONY have made some low budget phones in case u don't even see it

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 06:45

15. FireDragon (Posts: 117; Member since: 13 Nov 2009)

Sony really really need to have an OS complete in their own control so they will be able to put their own magic in it like UIQ.

Personally I wanted to them take on with webOS or better MeeGo, but let see how much FireFox OS will allow them to go. I am little excited about it even though an year of wait is a long long wait.

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 07:04

16. rusticguy (Posts: 2828; Member since: 11 Aug 2012)

Oh but didn't Sony mention that they would only be looking at High End phone customers?

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 09:07

18. InspectorGadget80 (unregistered)

Oh snap now this i gotta see!

posted on 26 Feb 2013, 11:29

20. Jyakotu (Posts: 852; Member since: 12 Dec 2008)

I love Sony as a company, in fact they're my favorite electronics company. However, I think it's ironic how they're looking into making a Firefox OS phone, but won't even consider making a Windows Phone. IMO, Windows Phone has more potential to take off. I see Firefox OS as a very niche OS, much like webOS was (admit it, it was a niche OS and very few people owned a Palm Pre/Pixi). But to each their own. Maybe they'll be the first to make a high end Firefox OS phone.