14 DAY TRIAL // It looks like Firefox OS-based smartphones will be exclusive to emerging markets, Mozilla confirmed. The reason behind the company's decision not to bring its low-cost handsets to more developed markets makes sense given the fact that Mozilla wants to avoid competition with other major platforms such as iOS and Android.
In an interview for CNET, Mozilla's Executive Chair Mitchell Baker confirmed that her company does not have plans to bring any of the Firefox OS-based smartphones in the United States.
Nevertheless, she also stated that Mozilla would launch developer edition phones powered by Firefox platform, in the United States. There are already more than 1,300 developer edition Firefox smartphones in the United States, all of which sold via eBay.
Mozilla's Vice President of Mobile, Andreas Gal has told CNET that the only Firefox device available in the United States will be the ZTE Open that can now be purchased on eBay.
Fortunately, this doesn't mean that Firefox OS-based phones will never be launched in the United States, as Gal has mentioned that Mozilla is “actively exploring” carrier partnerships for this particular market.
ZTE Open, LG Fireweb and Alcatel One Touch Fire are among the cheapest smartphones on the market and can be purchased in select countries for prices starting under $100 (€75).
They are powered by the latest version of Firefox (1.1), which brings lots of new features and improvements in comparison with the previous iteration.
Firefox handsets now come with Facebook integration, as well as lots of pre-loaded games and apps, including Cut the Rope, Twitter, HERE Maps with offline capabilities, Firefox Web browser and Firefox Marketplace.
Lots of applications can be downloaded via Firefox Marketplace, including Badoo, Box, Poppit, KAYAK, SoundCloud, The Weather Channel, TimeOut, TMZ and many others.
Firefox-based phones are already available for purchase in a few European countries and almost the entire South American continent, but those who really want one can order it via eBay from anywhere in the world.