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Mozilla is bringing affordable Firefox-powered smartphones to Africa

Rather than try to compete against the well-establish behemoths that dominate the developed world’s smartphone market (Android and iOS), Mozilla did the smart thing with its open-source Firefox OS and stuck with developing markets. In an effort to bring affordable mobile devices to impoverished people, Mozilla has started shipping Firefox OS-powered smartphones to countries in Africa. 

Smartphones running the open-source Firefox OS have begun shipping in Africa. The Orange Klif, a 3G phone that runs on Orange’s mobile network, is now available in Senegal and Madagascar. Mozilla announced that it would be making Africa a major focus back at Mobile World Congress; the company started shipping phones in South Africa earlier this spring and plans to continue its international push in the months ahead. “Through these launches, Mozilla and Orange deliver on the promise of putting the mobile web within reach of millions more people not previously addressed by mobile offers,” Mozilla said in a blog post. Firefox OS smartphones aren’t meant to stand up against iPhones or flagship Android devices. Mozilla is trying to get devices in the hands of people who’ve never owned any type of smartphone — a potential market that is by all accounts massive and could bring significant growth. The Africa launch shows that Mozilla is serious about reaching that goal.

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Written by Brian Molidor

Brian Molidor is Editor at Social News Watch. Find him on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

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