Mozilla Hacks

Calling All Porters: Phones for App Ports to Firefox OS

By Havi Hoffman

Posted on September 4, 2013 in Apps and Firefox OS

Back in May we launched a program for app developers called Phones for Apps for Firefox OS. We heard from thousands of developers in all corners of the world– thank you for your overwhelming interest.

Developers at BrazilJS by holmes.josh
Since then we’ve shipped out heaps of Geeksphone Keon Firefox OS Developer Preview phones and we’ve listed many new apps in Firefox Marketplace, including games like Rooftops and Yatzy, and L’Arrosoir, a lovely French language garden app. If you’ve built and submitted your app, thank you! Hope the rest of you are making good progress.

Phase 2 now open

Today we’re opening up the second phase of Phones for Apps for Firefox OS. This phase is about sending you a device (for keeps!) to make it easier for you to PORT and test your existing HTML5 app. We’re hyper-focused on getting Firefox OS phones into the hands of porters – developers who’ve already built and shipped an HTML5 web app and have the time now to port that app to the new Firefox OS platform.

Help Mozilla bring the open web to the world of mobile — and gain yourself a first-mover advantage in the Firefox Marketplace.

First step: Apply.

Guidelines

Here’s what you need to know when you apply.

  • We expect to see a URL for a web site, a code repository, or an app platform such as Amazon Web Apps, Blackberry WebWorks, Chrome Web Store, webOS, or the PhoneGap store. If you wrapped an HTML5 app with a native skin to distribute it to iTunes, Google Play or another app market, please indicate the tool you used (e.g., Appcelerator, PhoneGap, Sencha).
  • You must be able to get to work quickly. We are looking for completed apps in September and October.
  • Don’t wait to hear from us. Get started now by downloading the Firefox OS Simulator.
  • REMINDER: If you can’t point us to a live HTML5 app, you will not be eligible for this program.

Introducing Firefox OS

Apply

We look forward to reviewing your application. We’ll send an email confirmation when you complete the form. Then we will be in touch only if you are selected to receive a phone. Otherwise you will not hear from us. Thanks for your understanding. (We’re a really small team.)

Can’t wait to see your awesome ported apps. Apply now!

Photo credits: Thanks to Josh Holmes for the great shot from BrazilJS and to MozillaEU for the image from the Firefox OS Debut Poland.

About Havi Hoffman

Content wrangler & cat herder on the Developer Relations team. Also Mozilla Hacks blog editor and Mozilla Tech Speakers program co-founder.

More articles by Havi Hoffman…

33 comments

  1. Andrzej Mazur

    This article can be very helpful when you want to get your already developed HTML5 game (or app in general) be ported to Firefox OS: http://mobile.tutsplus.com/tutorials/firefox-os/preparing-for-firefox-os/

    September 4th, 2013 at 08:00

  2. Simon

    “We are reviewing applications now and will send invitations to the workshop no later than 11 August 2013.” Problem ?

    September 4th, 2013 at 09:46

    1. Havi Hoffman

      @Simon – Thanks for the heads-up. That was human error, now corrected! (The date was left over from a past workshop). Thanks also for your interest. Cheers, Havi

      September 4th, 2013 at 10:17

  3. Dubem

    What if I have a native c# app that I can port to HTML5, can I still apply.

    September 4th, 2013 at 12:01

    1. Havi Hoffman

      Hi Dubem — Thanks so much for your interest in Firefox OS. Short answer: sorry, native apps are not eligible for this HTML5 App porting program.

      Geeksphones and ZTE Open devices running Firefox OS are available now for sale online. Please start working on your port and let us know when you’ve submitted it to Firefox Marketplace. We’d love to give it a try.

      September 4th, 2013 at 14:07

  4. bardu

    I’m just wondering where you get the phones from? My Peak+ gets delayed until end of October and to my knowledge Peak and Keon can’t be ordered anymore, while the ZTE Open is sold out at eBay.

    September 4th, 2013 at 14:15

  5. Johann

    Seriously, if you expect us to put in time and effort to apply for a device, it would be fair to send those who didn’t make it a quick (automated) email. That’s just common courtesy.

    September 4th, 2013 at 14:58

    1. Havi Hoffman

      Thanks very much for your feedback. Regrettably, we don’t have a simple automated way to respond to the volume of submissions received.

      September 4th, 2013 at 15:22

  6. Sourav Lahoti

    Can we apply for this program even if we own a geek phone but have few apps that can be ported

    September 5th, 2013 at 06:13

  7. Andrea Bernabei

    Does it have to be an app you coded yourself, or can I port opensource html5 apps from other people as well (assuming the licence allows me to do that, for course)?

    September 5th, 2013 at 06:57

  8. Greg Froning

    I was curious if in the future you will offer a similar program, but provide a more powerful device, so we could test our apps that may require a little more oomph.

    September 5th, 2013 at 10:06

    1. Havi Hoffman

      @Greg – in the future, many things are possible.

      @Andrea, we are not lawyers, so this is not a policy statement, but at very least we would expect an explicit permission from the original app author.

      @Sourav, if your app is already listed in the Firefox Marketplace or has already been submitted, it is not eligible for this program.

      Thanks everyone for your interest and comments.

      September 5th, 2013 at 10:48

      1. Andrea Bernabei

        Thank you for the reply ;)

        Though, in my opinion, the licence that the author himself chooses, are already his words, don’t you agree :)

        Alway better to be kind and ask the author himself the permission, I agree ;)

        But legally speaking, if the licence allows that, then it’s all good :)

        September 6th, 2013 at 02:57

        1. Robert Nyman [Editor]

          The license can definitely be sufficient, but in such a case as this, I would say that it’s good practice and respect to connect with the original author first.

          September 9th, 2013 at 00:37

  9. Sourav Lahoti

    @Havi, No my app isn’t listed on the marketplace but i bought a geek phone and have many html5 apps that i have made for Nokia (S40 platform) that is ready to be ported for Firefox . So Am I eligible.

    September 5th, 2013 at 11:15

  10. TanaH

    I haven’t started to build my app yet, so i would like to know when does this second phase closes, in case I can’t apply at time.

    September 6th, 2013 at 04:30

  11. darethehair

    I wrote an astronomy-related HTML5 app to learn HTML5, but I have no idea if it is up to the public interest or quality level that Mozilla would be interested in. I am reluctant to apply and commit time in this case — is there someone I can contact to get some opinion on this first?

    September 6th, 2013 at 10:19

    1. Robert Nyman [Editor]

      I don’t think there will be time for people to give opinion on that level, but you don’t have anything to lose by submitting. :-)

      September 9th, 2013 at 00:39

  12. Havi Hoffman

    @Sourav – Thanks for asking! Please apply (with the link to your live HTML5 app), so that we can review your proposed app for porting.

    September 6th, 2013 at 14:52

  13. Antonellos Spyridon

    Thanks for selecting me! Emulator already installed and first steps already made! I’m porting 3 apps and really needed the Keon. Thanks!

    September 8th, 2013 at 00:32

  14. sourav lahoti

    Has anyone got the selection mail. I didn’t get the mail.. I think I am not selected.. :( thou I had 3 apps to be ported.

    September 9th, 2013 at 03:15

    1. havi hoffman

      @sourav We have only begun to review submissions.

      @All – Really regret we don’t have the scale for individual requests and responses. Do keep in mind, if your app is not originally built with HTML5 we will not be accepting your App Port proposal at this time. Thanks again everyone for your passion & interest. And for your apps!

      September 9th, 2013 at 13:44

  15. Alen Saqe

    We build 4 apps with HTML5/JavaScript we would be glad to port them to Firefox Market Place.

    A quiz game – Guess That. (Actually packaged on Play Store with Phonegap)
    USA Constitution (Actually packaged on Play Store with Phonegap)
    And 2 other constitutions in Albanian language.

    We are working on building more great apps with HTML5.

    We would be glad if we were chosen.

    September 10th, 2013 at 08:02

    1. Havi Hoffman

      @Alen – Look forward to reviewing your proposal and seeing your apps in the Marketplace. You can start the process of porting your apps now by downloading the Firefox Simulator. Thanks for your comment and your interest in Firefox OS!

      September 10th, 2013 at 08:22

  16. elektor

    I would like to port my Chrome web store app ASCIIart [image to ASCII] to Firefox OS,we already begun working very Hard, to Optimize it for Firefox OS,on simulator.and we also working on some really cool Html5 Games.
    ( waiting to Hear from Mozilla ).

    September 10th, 2013 at 22:04

  17. Pardeep

    I would love to develop for Firefox.started working on sent 4 Apps proposal. waiting for response.

    September 10th, 2013 at 23:55

  18. Alen Saqe

    I just ported USA constitution form our Google Play Store app.

    1.0 Pending approval September 11, 2013.

    A Mozilla phone would come in handy to help us develop even better apps in the near future.

    September 11th, 2013 at 05:26

  19. Alexander Tomilin

    Hello! Can I send several application forms? I have a lot of ideas.

    September 12th, 2013 at 07:24

    1. Havi Hoffman

      @Alexander – Thanks for your interest. Please apply just once with your best existing HTML5 app. Of course, you’re welcome to submit many FxOS apps to the Marketplace. For this program, we’re not looking for app ideas, we’re looking for an app or apps you’ve already built that you’re able to port to Firefox OS now.

      September 12th, 2013 at 07:37

      1. Александр Томилин

        But if I sended 3 application forms, can I be in this program? Or can I cancel previous forms?

        September 12th, 2013 at 10:06

  20. Jo

    How long does this last?

    September 12th, 2013 at 07:46

  21. Varun Malhotra

    Can we apply for the already submitted apps ?

    I have developed 2 apps and are there on Firefox Marketplace for free download. Am I eligible for this? Or I have to show something else?

    My first CALCULATOR app – https://marketplace.firefox.com/app/calculator-13
    My second GistHub app – https://marketplace.firefox.com/app/gisthub

    September 12th, 2013 at 11:07

  22. Havi Hoffman

    @Varun. Thanks for your apps in Marketplace. This program is to support developers with HTML5 apps live on other platforms to make it easier to port these apps more effectively.

    Sorry, app developers with apps already listed in Marketplace are not eligible for this program.

    @Александр We will review the applications you’ve already submitted. Please don’t submit any more :)

    @Jo, when we run out of Firefox OS Developer Preview phones to ship, we will close the application and let you know via @mozhacks twitter. Thanks!

    September 12th, 2013 at 11:25

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