Deutsche Telekom, Sprint to Back Firefox Phones

Deutsche Telekom and Sprint will support a new Firefox smart phone platform to turn up the heat on Google and Apple in the mobile software market, starting in 2013. Smart, Telecom Italia, Telenor and Etisalat also are backing the Firefox platform.

Mozilla Foundation, creator of Firefox Internet browser, said phone makers ZTE and TCL Communication Technology will roll out the first Firefox phones using Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors in early 2013.

Whether the support will manage to create a serious alternative remains a question. You might argue that telcos generally have had little to no success creating viable alternatives to either Apple's iOS or Android, so far.

A combination of forces are at work, including consumer preferences, not just operator support, and so far, customers simply have preferred both Apple and Android devices. You might also argue that consumers do not actually buy "operating systems," but rather the full bundle of values any device represents.

Still, some might argue the Firefox devices will be less costly for consumers, so some demand could exist in the "lower cost device" end of the market.