Mozilla Claims – ‘Firefox Mobile Will Replace App Stores’ – What Do You Think?
Mozilla is on a strong wicket when it comes to desktop browsers but still needs to carve a mark in mobile arena. Although everything will not be the same again if Mozilla’s new vision for its mobile browser comes true.
Mozilla claims that its Mobile browser – Firefox Mobile (code-named fennec) will provide super enriching experience to surfers on their mobile phones thus alleviating need for App stores (generally apps) completely.
Now that may sound too much but in lame terms it simply means that mobile browsers as OS could become the de-facto standard on mobile phones just like awaited Chrome OS. Today major apps are available on browsers replacing the need to download separate apps onto PC. Mozilla wants to do the same with its mobile browser.
Mozilla also claims that Firefox mobile will have the fastest JavaScript engine of any mobile browser. This will help it render HTML and heavily JavaScript coded apps inside the browser rather than downloading them to smartphones. WATBlog earlier reported the pro’s and cons of Mobile Web Vs Native Apps.
App stores are currently attracting ire from most of mobile users as they are walled gardens with limited access. For e.g Blackberry do not support app store in many countries and users with supported countries cannot download apps without a blackberry plan as the browser itself is locked.
App marketplace although may bring order to available apps but still lacks proper access features. They are even termed as ‘monopolized’ with heavy censorship. The mobile web experience on other hand lacks many whistles as heavy services are not properly optimized for mobile phones.
This might sound good idea but app stores are not going to vanish anytime soon and as far as using apps on browsers is concerned downloading of heavy objects each time in web pages will not find many takers in developing world due to high data charges. The browser independent web apps on mobile could also not fully exploit cell phone’s features (like push feature in Blackberry).
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This is a quite disruptive to the existing business models aka Iphone App store , Even Google is betting on Web Apps over Native apps and ultimately with the Advent of the HTML5 I think we can get there.
@Praveen
Shutting iPhone App store is not that easy as Apple will not allow that atleast in short run.Web apps first have to show success on platforms like android,windows mobile.Even some big Mobile OS player has to launch a google social like platform for smartphones.
Simply Naive. Forget distribution woes, How does one go about creating games and other native apps, which make up the lot ? It will take years for this to even become feasible. Even then the performance and quality will never compare to native apps.
Well its a interesting approach, but Opera is already on it and is way ahead in this game with their widgets. It will be interesting to watch the contest.