14 DAY TRIAL // The first phones to feature Firefox OS are now on sale. One is a cheap ZTE-built device sold by Telefónica-owned Movistar, the ZTE Open, a small, no-thrills 3.5-inch smartphone.
Meanwhile, Deutsche Telekom is selling the Alcatel One Touch Fire, which is similarly priced and specced.
That's precisely the type of phone Mozilla is targeting, at least at first. However, the fact that the phone is on sale signals the fact that Mozilla (or its partners) think that Firefox OS is ready for the big time.
That said, while Firefox OS may be ready for launch, it's still bare bones. The basic experience is there, but on mobile devices, as any smartphone owner will tell you, it's all about the apps these days.
"Firefox OS includes all the things people need from a smartphone out of the box – calls, messaging, email, camera and more – as well as the things you wish a smartphone offered," Mozilla explained.
"Firefox OS also includes built-in social features with Facebook and Twitter, HERE Maps with offline capabilities and smart walking, driving and public transit directions, much-loved features like the Firefox Web browser, a new ability to discover one-time use and downloadable apps, Firefox Marketplace and much more," it added.
Mozilla is tackling this issue, the lack of apps, in an interesting and unique way. While there are apps on Firefox OS, they're quite different from what you'd get on Android or iOS. For one, while you can install apps on your Firefox OS phone, you don't have to.
With the Firefox Marketplace, you simply search for something you need (e.g. a unit converter), find it, use it, and discard it. You don't have to install anything for a task that you only perform once or twice a month.