Mozilla's attempt to bring Firefox to new heights has ceased with layoffs of about 50 people working on bringing Firefox OS to "connected devices."
Hoping to duplicate its success with its open-source browser Firefox against closed source alternatives Firefox and Internet Explorer, Firefox OS was introduced in 2013. Many hoped the OS would gain similar success such as Android and iOS.
It seems not all went as planned, as the project is now officially dead. Firefox though still has followings on the desktop and mobile browser front. According to c|net, senior vice president Ari Jaaksi, who is in charge of the attempt, is among those who are to leave. Mozilla made the announcement to the group last Thursday.
Firefox was once a dominant choice for internet browsing has now been overshadowed by Google's Chrome. The attempt to bring Firefox to other devices to expand and strengthen its relevance, faltered for it struggled to gain a sizeable foothold and acceptance, nor was it able to get off the ground, according to The Verge. Their influence further shrunk as more people began browsing the internet through their mobile phones, a particular area Firefox is weak.
People following the project were not surprised, as Firefox OS never really took off and it was unable to attract users to its web application implementation and open web API usage. The final straw was the laying off the team behind the project who are attempting to bring the OS to Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices.
Unlike other tech companies, Mozilla's motivation is not to make money but push for a better web experience. The non-profit organization's greatest achievement was pushing back the dominant but stagnant, Microsoft's Internet Explorer almost 10 years ago.
Affected employees are getting new roles within the Mozilla organization. Those who are being let go, however, will get severance and job-hunting benefits. Although 50 people are directly affected by the cut, some might remain at Mozilla since they can apply for other positions.
