Firefox operating system launched to speed up Smartphone use

A specialised Firefox operating system (OS) was introduced Tuesday in Bangladesh to reduce existing barriers to internet use through the smartphone.

Mozilla, a widely used web platform, Grameenphone (GP) and Symphony jointly took the initiative to provide hassle-free internet browsing facilities for the customers.

The announcement came at a press conference in the city Tuesday, where  GP Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Vivek Sood, Telenor Group Executive Vice President and Head of Digital Services Rolv-Erik Spilling, CTO of Mozilla Dr Andreas Gal and Symphony Chairman Aminur Rashid, among others, addressed the event.

Through the new operating system, customers of Bondhu, GP's youth offer, will be able to enjoy a wide-range of benefits including 20MB free internet everyday that will be incorporated at the 'Symphony GoFox F15' handset.

"Almost 80 per cent people in the country don't know or unwilling to use internet", Mr Sood said adding that GP is committed to providing all of its 50 million customers with internet facilities.    

 He said this offer is the first offer of its kind in Bangladesh, and added it will serve as a strong stimulator for increased internet usage across the country.

Telenor along with the Mozilla community and more than a dozen global operators, is an active participant in the development of the Firefox OS through the sharing of its engineering resources.   

Mr Spilling said through this initiative the Telenor group is truly embracing its internet for all ambition, providing not only the Bangladeshi market with low-cost smartphones, but also easy and affordable mobile internet facilities.

jahangir_fe@yahoo.com