Mozilla will soon be releasing $25 smartphones powered by its Firefox OS in emerging markets like India and Indonesia through collaboration with local handset vendors and assemblers.
Mozilla has already launched its Firefox OS powered smartphones priced at over $60 in Europe and Latin America by partnering with handset manufacturers like ZTE, LG and carriers including Telefonica SA, Deutsche Telekom AG, and America Movil SAB.
To launch a $25 smartphone, Mozilla is collaborating with Chinese chip maker Spreadtrum Communications Inc.
The Firefox OS maker believes that $60 is still a higher price tag for countries like India where local vendors are selling smartphones for as low as $40.
“With a $25 price tag, there is no price gap between a smartphone and a feature phone. This attractive price point would help motivate feature phone users to switch to smartphones,” said Mr. Gong Li Mozilla’s Chief Operating Officer notes The Wall Street Journal.
To make its presence felt in India, Mozilla is planning to partner with local retailers and handset brands such a Micromax, the executive revealed to WSJ.
There are quite a few hurdles that Firefox OS will face as far as adoption is concerned. First and foremost is the not-so-developed apps ecosystem and secondly the low price point Android handsets that are already available in these markets.
