Mozilla Drops $25 Smartphone Plans, Will Focus On Higher Quality Devices

An anonymous reader writes: When Mozilla developed Firefox OS, its goal was not to provide the best smartphone experience, but to provide a "good enough" smartphone experience for a very low price. Unfortunately, these cheap handsets failed to make a dent in the overall smartphone market, and the organization is now shifting its strategy to start producing a better experience for better devices. CEO Chris Beard said, "If you are going to try to play in that world, you need to offer something that is so valuable that people are willing to give up access to the broader ecosystem. In the mass market, that's basically impossible." Of course, when moving to the midrange smartphone market, or even the high end, there's still plenty of competition, so the new strategy may not work any better. However, they've hinted at plans to start supporting Android apps, which could help them play catch-up. Beard seems fixated on this new goal: "We won't allow ourselves to be distracted, and we won't expand to new segments until significant traction is demonstrated." He adds, "We will build products that feel like Mozilla."

Comments

Why do this in the first place?

[gstoddart]

So why is Mozilla trying to enter into the cheap handset market? This isn't their core competencies.

It just seems like they're flailing about trying to define the next big thing. And, really, that seems to be a waste of resources.

This just feels like Mozilla has kind of lost the plot.

Re:Why do this in the first place?

[Lunix Nutcase]

The problem is that they are essentially rudderless without Google's yearly handouts. If Mozilla had diversified their revenue long ago they wouldn't be in this situation of throwing tons of shit at the wall to see what sticks.

Re:Why do this in the first place?

[Anonymous Coward]

The problem is that they are essentially rudderless without Google's yearly handouts. If Mozilla had diversified their revenue long ago they wouldn't be in this situation of throwing tons of shit at the wall to see what sticks.

They were too busy firing a CEO because "ZOMG GAY MARRIAGE"

Re:Why do this in the first place?

[rudy_wayne]

So why is Mozilla trying to enter into the cheap handset market? This isn't their core competencies.

It just seems like they're flailing about trying to define the next big thing. And, really, that seems to be a waste of resources.

This just feels like Mozilla has kind of lost the plot.

Mozilla lost the plot long ago. Their combination of arrogance and incompetence has ruined what was once the best browser around.

But at least they forced their CEO to resign because he voted against same sex marriage. They've got that going for them.

Re:Why do this in the first place?

[Kjella]

Why do this in the first place?

Unlike the desktop, most people use the browser supplied with their smartphone/tablet. Apple doesn't allow any application competing with their own as far as I know and on Android Chrome is a central part of Google's all-or-nothing package of apps and services. Maybe they think that for once they'll be the default browser on something. Then again, they're not a first party browser on the desktop either so why they need to have delusions of grandeur I don't know. What I do know is that they have zero chance of pulling off a whole mobile ecosystem with apps and everything. Even Microsoft struggle like hell and they have poured billions into Windows Phone, the Nokia buyout and whatnot.