Sometime in the middle of this month, we did talk about the upcoming Geeksphone Peak+ handset that will run on the Firefox mobile operating system. Well, this particular smartphone did raise its fair share of eyebrows, especially when one considers […]
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Spanish open hardware phone platform manufacturer Geeksphone, which created the first developer preview devices for Mozilla’s Firefox OS (aka Peak and Keon), has announced it’s now taking pre-orders for a new beefed up consumer version of its Peak smartphone that it’s called Peak+.
Geeksphone’s original two developer-focused devices sold out a few hours after going on sale – doubtless helped by their low prices of $194 and $119 respectively. The Peak+ looks likely to garner similar levels of demand, thanks to a similarly low pre-order price, although there is now more competition for Firefox devices — with Telefonica selling the ZTE Open in Spain (and elsewhere) for as little as €69/$90. (Albeit, the more expensive Peak+ does offer beefier, mid-range specs vs the very budget ZTE Open.)
Geeksphone has created a pre-sale reservation list for consumers wanting to buy the device for a “one-time, limited promotional price” of €149/$196 (excluding taxes) — after which it will be sold at a “standard price” via the startup’s online store, from September. Geeksphone would not confirm exactly how much the phone will ultimately retail for, saying only it would be “slightly higher”.
On paper, the Peak+ is a slightly beefier version of the original Peak, with double (1GB) the RAM and the latest version of the Firefox OS (v1.1). Other specs are the same as the original Peak, including its dual-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm 8225 chipset, 4.3” qHD IPS multitouch screen, 8-megapixel rear camera (with flash), 2 megapixel front camera, and tri-band UMTS / HSPA, plus a 1800 mAh battery. But Geeksphone says it has improved battery management and graphical performance.
It also says it has “enhanced” the external materials and inner construction for “a more polished finish and pleasant touch, as demanded by our users”. Storage wise, the Peak+ has 4GB of internal storage which can be expanded up to 32 GB via MicroSD. It will also come with 25GB of cloud storage (from Fiabee).
Geeksphone said the vast majority (93%) of buyers of its earlier developer devices came from outside its home country. Demand was apparently especially high in Germany, France and Japan. Several other Asian and Latin American countries were also said to be very keen on the devices.
Mozilla’s Firefox OS is aiming to provide an open alternative to Google’s Android OS, especially at the budget to mid-tier smartphone handset price range, and has signed up considerable carrier support for the initiative. This contrasts to Canonical’s high end approach, with its circa $600 Ubuntu Edge smartphone — currently seeking $32 million in crowdfunding backing to build an open source-based smartphone that can double as a PC.
Update: A Mozilla spokesperson has been in touch requesting a “correction” that the Peak+ is not a Firefox OS phone, but rather is “based on Boot to Gecko technology” — aka Mozilla’s original codename for the Firefox OS Linux-based open source software project.
“We want to clarify that this new phone that was announced is based on Boot to Gecko technology with pre-release software, but is not a certified or supported Firefox OS device,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
This is basically an issue of brand control. It’s worth noting that Mozilla has been criticised by others in the open software movement for the lengths it goes to to defend its branding. And Firefox OS is a key new brand for Mozilla, which it’s clearly keen to protect and control.
As to why Geeksphone’s Peak+ does not have Firefox OS branding, TechCrunch understands the Firefox OS branding scheme is currently only available to carrier-backed devices. We’ve reached out to Mozilla for clarification on what mobile makers have to do to achieve Firefox OS certification/branding and will update this post with any response.
Interested in jumping on the Geeksphone Firefox OS bandwagon? Its first consumer-oriented device, the Peak+, is up for pre-order and we now know a lot more about it. It doubles up the RAM to 1GB over its Peak and Keon developer siblings, while packing the same 4.3-inch qHD display, 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPU, 4GB of storage (with a microSD expansion slot), 8-megapixel rear camera and 1,800 mAh battery as the original Peak. It’s also boasting the latest Firefox OS flavor, version 1.1, which brings faster boot times and fewer bugs, along with 25GB of cloud storage. You can reserve one at €149 for a limited time with delivery promised by mid-September — so, if you’ve been looking go above the usual smartphone OS fray, check the source.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Via: Engadget Spanish (translated)
Source: Geeksphone
Geeksphone had already begun to tease its next Firefox OS-powered device right after the platform has rolled out to the public. In fact, they revealed that their upcoming smartphone that will run on the Firefox OS platform will be called […]
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Geeksphone’s Firefox OS-based Keon and Peak phones have mostly catered to developers; the company is now widening that audience with an upgraded phone for the public, the Peak+. While Geeksphone isn’t saying exactly what’s been tuned, it promises “new hardware upgrades” in response to community feedback. The firm is also offering 25GB in cloud storage to first-timers for all their web syncing needs. Reservations for the Peak+ will start in the days ahead, and would-be customers will likely want to sign up quickly — Geeksphone is teasing a discount for the first wave of buyers.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Geeksphone
As promised, Geeksphone is offering both of its Firefox OS smartphones starting today. While the Firefox orange-tinged Keon will set you back $119, the slightly more upmarket Peak is priced at $194 — check out both of them in action after the break. The online retailer is willing to send both developer devices to anywhere in the world, so if you’re looking to be part of the next billion smartphone users, place your order at the source.
[Thanks, Kyle]
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Geeksphone
A couple of days ago, we managed to bring you word that Firefox OS will be released across five different countries later this summer, thanks to Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs spilling the beans, with those countries being ones that are located in Europe and South America. Well, it seems that Spanish e-retailer Geeksphone does have its fair share of additional details to disperse among the masses. The “shocking” news that the world is dying to know? Both Keon and Peak smartphones that were spotted at Mobile World Congress earlier this year in Barcelona, Spain, will be made available, albeit as developer preview units.
Geeksphone put it this way, that the two handsets “will be available for dispatch anywhere on earth.” The asking price for the more basic Keon handset will set you back by €91 inclusive of taxes, while the mid-range Peak smartphone will be naturally pricier at €149. Are you looking forward to see what these Firefox OS powered smartphones are full well capable of?
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Facebook Updates Windows Phone App To Fix Issues, Samsung Galaxy S4 Arriving On Verizon This May, 
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Two days ago, Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs reinforced what we already knew: Firefox OS will launch in four to five countries in Europe and South America by summer. Today, a newsletter from Spanish e-retailer Geeksphone fills in a few more details. According to the email, the Keon and Peak smartphones we saw at MWC will hit its site next week — albeit as developer preview units. Still, Geeksphone says the two handsets “will be available for dispatch anywhere on earth.” The lower-end Keon will cost €91 plus taxes, while the mid-range Peak will set you back €149. Early adopters can subscribe to the mailing list to stay updated; click through to the source link.
[Thanks, William]
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Source: Geeksphone
Mozilla said it won’t be launching its own hardware to run the in-development Firefox OS when it’s finished, but the company has just announced a “Developer Preview Phone” for putting the OS through its paces. It’s not quite the same as the mystery device we saw sporting Firefox OS at CES, but its specs seem almost as basic. The handset will feature a 3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen and 3-megapixel camera on the outside, with a 1GHz Snapdragon S1 CPU, half a gig of RAM, 4GB of microSD-expandable storage and WiFi, 2G and 3G antennae inside. Sure, that processor isn’t a beast, but an 800MHz S1 does just fine in the Lumia 610. A 1580mAh battery will keep the carrier-unlocked phone running, and Mozilla is promising OTA updates to Firefox OS to keep devs, well, up to date. At the moment, we have no idea how much the phone will cost, but the first units are expected to be available next month.
The developer handset is called the Keon, according to creator Geekphone’s website, and while not mentioned in the Mozilla Hacks blog post, it appears to have a more powerful cousin called the Peak. It’s got a 4.3-inch qHD screen, 8-megapixel back-facing camera (with flash) and 2-megapixel shooter round the front. A 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU and larger 1800mAh battery are within, but storage, RAM and connectivity specs are the same as the smaller Keon. Mozilla may not be formally promoting this as its own dev handset, but it was still included in the picture which accompanied the announcement (see above: the Keon is in orange, the Peak in white). We’re getting in contact with Mozilla to clarify, and will update you when we hear back.
Update: Mozilla has confirmed that both the Keon and Peak are official developer devices.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Mozilla, Geeksphone
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