Apple iOS And Android Lack Openness And Firefox OS Is The Only Alternative Says Mozilla CTO

Technically speaking, Google's Android and Apple's iOS are ruling the roost across the globe for quite some time now. Both the tech titans are followed by Microsoft's Windows Phone OS. However, Mozilla's Chief Technology Officer, Andreas Gal, has a different story to tell. According to him, both Google and Apple are chip off the old block, referring to the total lack of transparency.

When talking about both Cupertino and Mountain View-based companies, Andreas stated that the industry leaders in the market are closed gardens that do not tell its customers which data is going in or coming out. In spite of the technical differences between the top operating systems, there is no way to understand how the personal data of users are utilised, as reported by Phone Arena. In Andreas' own straight-forward words, "Right now the user has a choice between one phone where you can't tell what goes on inside it and another phone where you can't tell what goes on inside it."

He further added that Android-based phones are nothing but Google's agents in users' pocket. And the search giant does not think about its users; instead, it puts efforts to enhance its market value. He continued that, in the name of knowing the user, Google tracks every single user and targets them. Ultimately, the search giant creates rules in such a way that it serves the company and not the user.

It is worth noting that, Mozilla just celebrated Firefox browser's tenth birth anniversary. And the CTO said, Firefox mobile operating system can be trusted to bring in the much-required change to the smartphone market with transparency as the unique selling point, according to The Guardian. When it comes to openness, there is no other OS which is as open as Mozilla's open source Firefox OS, said the same executive. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Windows Phone were completely ignored by him.

In the hindsight, Mozilla's Firefox OS runs on limited range of handsets like the Alcatel One Touch Fire and ZTE Open C, among others. Notably, these are entry-level devices. With very little products released thus far, it is quite apparent that the company is facing tough-time marketing its devices to potential buyers. Moreover, the job becomes very difficult when the focus is on an overlooked agenda and in this case, the spotlight is on transparency, opines Phone Arena. If the company succeeds in building and very importantly, selling its devices focusing on openness, it would open new avenues in the tech world. Mozilla could target the entry-level and emerging markets at first and build over it, eventually. The CTO concluded by saying the following, "We can't change the industry over night but we can move in the right direction."

What do you think of Andreas Gal's statements? And when was the last time you used Firefox OS powered device? Feel free to leave a comment.

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