Reports suggest that Samsung is pursuing a partnership with Mozilla, hoping to bring Firefox OS together with Tizen. At a recent conference, Samsung’s Chief Secretary Wonsuk Lee, noted that a relationship between the two is possible. Not only is it possible, it’s technically feasible.
Both operating systems are HTML5 based, meaning apps written for one app can be used for the other. That also means mobile apps for Chrome could be pinched, though those are currently not optimized for mobile. Both Tizen and Firefox are currently struggling to gain adoption, and foothold, in a crowded OS market.
While both are said to be used for low-end devices, Tizen is also meant for higher-end offerings. That would give Mozilla an inroad to a market segment they previously hadn’t pursued. Samsung, however, is currently dragging their heels with Tizen devices, delaying release of the handsets often.
Furthermore, when Samsung does bring Tizen out of the closet, they are quick to point out that it’s in the early days of development. The OS doesn’t impress those that have seen it, leading many to consider it unready for release any time soon. Samsung is again touting that the first Tizen devices will be released to the world early next year, but we’ve heard that kind of talk before.
Firefox is already available in some markets, and struggles to find a foothold. A partnership with Tizen would bring a partnership that is strong in name, but perhaps limited in functionality. One is new and finds trouble with making itself useful to a world dominated by android and iOS, while the other is often delayed and yet to be tested. If a partnership does occur, don’t expect much from it initially.
Good stuff, but Firefox OS is not struggling, it’s actually expanding rapidly in the Third World as expected.
True. I also question how Tizen can be ‘struggling to gain adoption’ when it hasn’t been released (for a smartphone) yet. That kind of seems like killing the baby before it’s alive.
Let’s just let Firefox OS do what it’s designed to do, but a pity it’s not really intended to come to the US.
Too bad. I could get used to $80 smartphones.
Pretty odd to say Firefox OS struggles when there are no numbers out (vendors have said they are pleased with the success so far). Note that Firefox OS is almost exclusively rolling out in developing countries, so it’s expected that you seldomly see anyone with a Firefox OS phone (unless you are in certain areas). Let’s see how the next year pans out (after all, Firefox OS phones are only available since a few months) until we can make any assessment of success.