Mozilla has announced its plans of developing a version of the Firefox OS that is compatible with majority, if not all, of wearables. In particular, the company seeks to address the barriers that have been generated by the operating systems of Apple and Google, particularly in the use of their smartwatches and other wearable devices.
Currently, the Firefox OS has already been incorporated in less expensive smartphones and is being planned to be integrated into Panasonic's 4K TVs to be released this year.
According to Joe Cheng, manager at Mozilla's mobile devices group, the company then seeks to further incorporate the OS into more devices, such as wearables and home appliances. In an interview at the CES conference, Cheng emphasized the relevance of covering devices that are connected through the Internet in order to ensure quality user experience.
All in all, the Firefox OS will be made available for all mobile devices, wearables and appliances for easier communication and efficient information exchange.
Compared to wearables that run the Android Wear by Google or Apple's iOS, the Firefox OS is expected to become a potential competitor due to users' increased ability to communicate with various devices regardless of the OS used.
In contrast, wearables that run the Android Wear are only capable of exchanging information with similar Android devices whereas the forthcoming Apple Watch can only communicate with selected iPhone models.
"We want to break that single-brand barrier," Cheng explained.
With the Firefox OS already being used among low-cost smartphones, a wearable version is likely to appeal to low-cost wearable manufacturers with product offerings that cost $100 or less.
Wearable devices have increasingly gained popularity, paving the way for their own success. Smartwatches, for example, have become a favorite among many due to its ability to track down and monitor one's fitness information as well as offer social media updates and notifications.
While Cheng did not go into detail as to when the company aims to bring the Firefox OS to wearables, Mozilla is reportedly in talks with potential partners who may take up interest in using the OS.
"We want to make sure what we're building is right for the user instead of just another product on the market," Cheng stated.
While the Firefox OS has been a subject of criticism because of its slow speed when used in mobile devices, it remains a popular alternative due to its use of open-source technologies.
