Mozilla to enforce minimum requirements for Firefox OS
updated 01:05 pm EST, Thu February 28, 2013
Non-conforming devices barred from using Firefox name
Smartphones running Firefox OS must meet a set of minimum requirements in order to carry the Firefox branding, in future. Manufacturers wanting their device to be an official Firefox product will need to have the Firefox browser and official marketplace installed, as well as agreeing to a basic list of specifications and other similar requirements.
Official Firefox phones as part of the "Powered by Firefox OS" program would need to run on an 800MHz single-core processor at the very least, with 256MB of RAM and a QVGA-resolution display, according to The Verge. Phones running on Firefox OS that were shown at Mobile World Congress, such as the ZTE Open and Alcatel One Touch Fire, seem to be taking advantage of these low requirements in order to produce a handset aimed at emerging markets.
Though the requirements for the use of the Firefox brand on a product seems to be relatively similar to a program by Google for Android, it does differ in that it will allow carriers to also preload their own app stores and other software onto the devices as well. A device that uses Firefox OS but does not receive permission to use the Firefox branding, such as one with insufficient hardware or missing obligatory software, can still be sold and also access the official Firefox OS app store, unlike a non-compliant Android device and the Google Play Store.
