Mozilla is halting development of Firefox for Windows Mobile. Microsoft does not allow “native” apps on Windows Phone 7.
The open-source foundation has been working for some time on a version of its mobile browser (code-named Fennec) for Microsoft’s smartphone operating system. However, the future of Windows Mobile and apps for it is limited. Microsoft has decided to make a break with the next version of its phone platform. Windows Phone 7 is not compatible with Windows Mobile.
Silverlight or XNA
That also means the end of development of Firefox Mobile for Microsoft’s smartphone platform. Phone 7 does not permit “native” apps. All programs must be developed in Microsoft’s multimedia technology Silverlight or in Xbox game technology XNA.
Mozilla therefore sees no future for its own web browser on that platform. This is reported by developer Stuart Parmenter, the technical head of Mozilla’s mobile development team. He blogs that development of Firefox for Windows Mobile was well underway. The work carried out on the underlying Windows CE 6 core has, according to Parmenter, put Mozilla in a good position to have a fantastic browser for Windows Phone 7.
High expectations
“We have been working for some time on a version of Firefox for Windows Mobile, with the expectation that Microsoft would double down on its commitment to the mobile market, and with the hope that the company would release a fantastic new mobile operating system. We have been closely following the Windows Phone 7 announcements over the past few weeks.” One of the Firefox Mobile developers was also present at Microsoft’s MIX conference last week.
Mozilla’s decision was made despite the fact that Windows Mobile will not immediately exit as soon as Phone 7 is released at the end of this year. In fact, reports are circulating of a Windows Phone 6 Starter Edition that would be a renamed Mobile 6.5. Parmenter further blogs that the knowledge, experience and software code gained will not be lost, but can be used for Firefox on other platforms.
Android first, then
Windows Mobile was the next platform on Mozilla’s roadmap. After that comes Google’s smartphone operating system Android, photos of which surfaced earlier this month. Apple’s iPhone OS and RIM’s BlackBerry OS are not on Mozilla’s roadmap at all, and Nokia’s Symbian had already been dropped earlier. Fennec currently runs only on Nokia’s Maemo, and soon on Google’s Android.