Gadget Reviews

Mozilla’s Firefox web browser innovated the way we browse the web. It offered a real alternative to Internet Explorer and had infinitely more features, was more reliable and, with its open source nature, was infinitely customisable. Last month, Mozilla confirmed that they will be bringing Firefox-style innovation to the world of mobile phones. They are developing their own Android-style mobile operating system, codenamed ‘Boot to Gecko’.

Boot to Gecko, built using the Gecko engine that powers Firefox, is not Mozilla’s first foray into the mobile spectrum. Last year the company commissioned a video for their concept handset, Mozilla Seabird. That, however, was merely a concept and it was unknown as to whether it would ever become a reality. The Boot to Gecko project brings Mozilla one step closer.

Asked why Mozilla wants to enter a market that it so dominated by Apple and Android, their spokesperson Andreas Gal said that, “The ultimate goal of Boot to Gecko is to break the stranglehold of proprietary technologies over the mobile device world.” Although Mozilla’s project will have to use aspects of Google’s operating system, Gal went on to say that, “It will use as little of Android as possible.”

In the long term, it is thought that Mozilla’s OS won’t have to rely upon Android and will be a stand-alone operating system in its own right. Designed for the open web, Gecko will use HTML 5-based development tools, potentially making it infinitely customisable, like Firefox.

The official Mozilla blog says, “We will do this work in the open, we will release the source in real-time, we will take all successful additions to an appropriate standards group, and we will track changes that come out of that process.”

Currently, it is not known when Gecko will see a release, or which devices it will be compatible with. It is also unknown as to whether Mozilla plan to manufacturer their own mobile devices or whether other mobile manufacturers will develop Gecko-powered devices.

If you are wanting to look at all the latest mobile handsets that are on the market visit dialaphone where they have deals on mobile phones to suit everyone.