Firefox OS Hits The Stores With A €69 Smartphone And A Disruptive Strategy

Going on sale on July 2nd for just 69 Euros is the ZTE Open. One of a number of handsets announced today that runs Firefox OS, this is the first handset available to the consumer, as opposed to the Keon developer handsets that shipped this spring. The affordable smartphone is here.

                           

 While there are handsets powered by Android that can just about reach this price point, it would be a brave man to call these low powered Android devices smartphones. I would say the the nearest rival is the Windows Phone powered Nokia Lumia 520, and that handset is close to double the cost of the ZTE Open… even before you consider Telefonica is throwing in $39 call credit when you buy the Firefox OS powered handset.                                                       

Having been lucky enough (and quick enough), I’ve spent some time with the Keon developer preview handset, and I think the Firefox OS team are on to something. This isn’t going to beat a Galaxy S4, but it does flank the strategy of many of the major smartphone platforms to reach users that simply could not adopt a more expensive smartphone.                            

Handsets with Firefox OS are going to be targeted at the very cost conscious customer who do not have a lot of money. While today’s handsets from ZTE and Alcatal will initially be available across central and eastern Europe, it’s further afield where I believe that Firefox OS will see real success, especially the BRIC countries. It’s going to be a slow build up, but by the end of 2013 I think we’ll see some strongholds for the open OS around the world, ready for a strong 2014.