Firefox OS To Make Hardware Debut With Keon And Peak Developer Preview Smartphones

Mozilla’s Firefox OS, the mobile operating system from the company that makes the Firefox browser build entirely on open web standards, will have its first hardware soon thanks to developer preview smartphone devices, created by Spanish open hardware phone platform manufacturer Geeksphone, in partnership with Telefonica. Two models, the Peak and the Keon, will offer developers different hardware profiles to develop for, covering both higher-end and more affordable devices.

The Keon features a Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 1GHz processor with 512MB of RAM, 3G HSPA network connectivity, a 3.5-inch display, 3 MP rear camera and 4GB of onboard storage. It has a MicroSD slot, and a 1580 mAh battery. It seems pretty low-specced, but that’s likely by design – the Keon is just developer hardware after all, but it also sets a profile for a device that can easily appeal to a developing market.

The Peak on the other hand has a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.2GHz dual-core processor, also boasts 3G HSPA wireless radios, but adds a 4.3-inch screen, an 8 MP rear camera and a 2 MP front shooter. It’s still only got 512MB of RAM under the hood and 4GB of onboard storage, however, but there’s a MicroSD slot for storage expansion, and a beefier 1800 mAh battery to handle the extra specs.

Mozilla hasn’t announced availability of the devices yet beyond a general February release timeframe, or how they will be distributed, but it has announced Firefox OS App Days, which will take place this week and allow developers to come together to learn Firefox OS, hack and create app s for the platform. No word on if this hardware might make an appearance at those events.

The Firefox phones are definitely adorable, if a little weak in the specs department. I’m willing to bet that these will become highly sought-after items in the tech community, specs or no. I know I already want one of each.

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