Archive notice: This article was originally published on November 27, 2007. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The Mozilla Foundation has already been working on a mobile version of the popular Firefox browser for some time. In a blog, developer Christian Sejersen now outlines the roadmap for the coming months and sets out Mozilla’s goals. “We want to optimise the standardised open-source browser engine in such a way that it runs on mobile devices and can thus be integrated into their devices by mobile phone manufacturers,” writes Sejersen. Firefox is also to offer the full range of functions in the mobile version, which also includes extending the browser through Ad-ons.
However, importance continues to be placed on open source and they want to provide programmers with documentation to enable further development, says Sejersen. In the development work, they are now initially concentrating on two platforms based on ARM11 processors. On the one hand, the Nokia N800 with Linux as the operating system was chosen; the Windows side is represented by the HTC S730. “These devices enable us to test different hardware characteristics – for example, the different resolution of the screens.” In addition, the mobile phones differ in their operation: one of the devices has a touchscreen, the other does not. These contrasts are intended to help create a universal user interface, says the developer.
According to Sejersen, Mozilla is also looking for ways to simplify the handling of internet pages on the small mobile phone screens, for example by offering different layouts. In addition, the user is to be able to use special functions of the respective mobile phone, for example the camera, with the browser. Different navigation concepts as well as options for text input are also being examined. Owners of Symbian-based mobile phones will in any case have to be patient for longer. The reason for this lies in the large number of different devices, which means that they are initially concentrating on other areas. However, should developers be found who want to develop for Symbian, we would be very pleased, says Sejersen.
Tristan Nitot, president of the Mozilla Foundation, has meanwhile explained in a newspaper interview that he could certainly imagine the foundation joining Google’s Open Headset Alliance. “The initiative is heading in the right direction. For freely usable open-source operating systems such as Google’s, Mozilla is certainly a natural partner,” said Nitot. Whether the Mozilla Foundation would actually participate in Android still had to be discussed internally, he qualified.
Further Links:
- Mozilla Foundation
