ZTE planning bigger, better Firefox OS phone for US release next year

[wraggster]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/09/zteopen_620x340.jpgZTE is one of the few companies making a sly side-bet on Firefox OS (http://www.engadget.com/tag/firefoxos/), and next year it's planning to double-down on that initial wager with the launch of a second handset running Mozilla's smartphone platform. Speaking with IDG's Michael Kan at Expo Comm China 2013, ZTE's Executive VP He Shiyou expects the device to land first half 2014, with a larger display than its predecessor, a dual-core processor, a "revamped user experience" and, of course, a low price. The exec also said that, with approximately100,000 units sold (http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/17/zte-open-ebay/), demand for the ZTE Open (http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/24/zte-open-hands-on/) "has exceeded supply," and he anticipates double that figure in total sales. ZTE deliberately manufactured the Open on a small scale, but is optimistic about future adoption of Firefox OS. Shiyou believesHTML5-based apps (http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/mozilla-firefox-os-phone-for-apps-phase-two/) will become more relevant as speedy network technology like LTE reduces reliance on native software, stating: "In the future, the app store business model will be no more."

http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/25/zte-plans-second-firefox-phone/