Slowly but surely, Mozilla, the company responsible for Firefox has been building a new and open platform called Firefox OS. Built entirely using HTML5 and other open Web standards, Firefox OS, much like Android will be free for developers and carriers to tinker with. However, Mozilla is taking the strategy one step further by building on HTML5, which is what Chrome from Google is built upon.

Now, you can add Sony to the list of  various OEMs and carriers looking to diversify past Android. In order to not be tied down to single provider, Sony Mobile has stated that starting in 2014, you expect to see Sony devices running Firefox OS. Sony commented:

 As well as the great opportunity we have in 2013, our further collaboration around a possible device on the Firefox OS mobile platform will create the opportunity to reach new segments of the market, allowing us to provide an even wider choice of premium Sony device offerings for our customers. 

According to Bob Ishida, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head of Products Business Group, Sony Mobile Communications:

 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. 

This seems to indicate that Sony is well along with their development of the OS on undisclosed products if the 2014 timetable is to be reached. While specifics about the device are still unknown, it’s probably a safe bet to assume that Sony will first run the OS on budget smartphones. This will allow Sony’s Android line to focus on the more lucrative high end segment while the young OS will run on more entry level phones, making it a perfect fit for the companies expansion into developing countries. This also grants Sony an eventual escape, should they see that being in Android is something that is no longer favorable to them. This is especially true as Google slowly begin to make its own hardware, something they had originally promised not to do.

Discuss:

Do you see a future in Firefox OS?

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Sony Mobile and Telefónica reinforce partnership with multi-year commercial and technical collaboration

Telefonica to range Sony Mobile’s 2013 Xperia portfolio including Xperia™ Z and Xperia™ Tablet Z
Telefónica establishes technical partnership with Sony Mobile to leverage opportunities with the new Firefox OS open source platform

25th February 2013, Barcelona, Spain – Telefónica and Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today reinforced the strength of their commercial partnership in a multi-year agreement that confirms the operator’s ranging support for Sony Mobile’s 2013 Xperia™ Android device portfolio, as well as laying out a joint technical collaboration to explore the development of a handset running Mozilla’s Firefox OS open source mobile platform.

Sony Mobile and Telefónica are long-term partners and Sony Mobile has in the past year steadily grown its portfolio of premium Android-based smartphones available on the Telefónica network, including the Xperia™ T – aka ‘The Bond phone’ and now the acclaimed Xperia™ Z smartphone and Xperia™ Tablet Z. Under the terms of the agreement, Telefónica and Sony Mobile will further strengthen their partnership and investigate emerging technologies such as the Firefox OS platform to extend Sony’s premium product portfolio to a wider customer base.

“At Sony Mobile we continue to evaluate innovative technologies that can help deliver the premium user experiences that Sony’s consumers expect,” said Bob Ishida, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head of Products Business Group, Sony Mobile Communications. “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.”

“Sony’s Xperia Z and Xperia Tablet Z are stunning devices that really raise the bar when it comes to the premium smartphone and tablet segment- and we’re delighted to be partnering to bring these to market across a number of our global channels,” commented Marieta del Rivero, Group Devices Director, Telefónica. “As well as the great opportunity we have in 2013, our further collaboration around a possible device on the Firefox OS mobile platform will create the opportunity to reach new segments of the market, allowing us to provide an even wider choice of premium Sony device offerings for our customers.”

Firefox OS marks a significant milestone for the industry, enabling for the first time devices to be manufactured to totally open web standards. It will provide customers with a rich, open and dynamic smartphone experience.

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