Firefox OS/Flame
Flame - the Firefox OS Reference Phone
The Flame reference phone offers a representative set of specs for where Mozilla is focusing Firefox OS development in 2014 and 2015. The Flame is here to help developers build great content and experiences for Firefox OS and to simplify the development and testing of Firefox OS itself.
Status:
- 2014-02-xx Final hardware completed.
- 2014-04-27 Retail site and pre-orders underway.
- 2014-06-18 Hopefully final Firefox OS 1.3 build in testing.
Getting a Flame
If you are a core member of the Firefox OS development effort, you should already have a Flame phone. If you do not, please reach out to your leadership and ask for one.
If you are not a member of the Firefox OS development team, there are several other opportunities for you to get a Flame.
The first and most widely available is to purchase a Flame. The bootloader and carrier unlocked phone costs $170 ($145 plus $25 shipping and handling) and can be shipped to almost anywhere in the world. It utilizes a quad-band GSM+UMTS radio so it works with a wide variety of operators/carriers. We are currently using this site for retail.
The next opportunities are through "Free Flames for X" type programs. Mozilla has several of these programs underway and planned.
- Flames for Apps. This is for experienced HTML5 app developers wishing to port their highly-rated app onto Firefox OS. Details on how to participate at this Hacks blog post.
- Flames for Feedback aka "Foxtrot." This upcoming program will involve giving free Flames to contributors who will agree to use the device to provide specific kinds of feedback to QA, Product, UX, etc.
Status:
- Mozilla has received its order of ~2000 Flames
- About 500 Flames distributed to core Firefox OS team members via team leaders.
- Retail site launched May 27, 5000 Flames available.
- Retail site down from June 11 - June 19. Restored as of June 20.
- Foxtrot program still under development, applications expected to open week of June 23.
Updating a Flame
We will have three "channels" of Firefox OS software versions for the Flame phone.
The first channel is our release channel. Flames ship with this channel and will receive over the air updates for future major versions. That is, Flames will update from 1.3 to 1.4 to 2.0 to 2.1, etc.
The second channel is our nightly channel. Flames can be flashed to this channel and after the initial flashing will get over the air updates on a daily or nearly daily basis.
The third channel will be for the Foxtrot program. It will require an initial flash like the nightly channel. This channel will be based on "verified" nightly builds that will be updated about once a month.
Status:
- We have no public builds yet. This is our top priority.
- (Mozilla employees only) early builds and instructions available at https://intranet.mozilla.org/QA/B2G_Tips_and_Tricks#Reference_Phone_.28Flame.29
Flame Specs
| OS | Firefox OS V1.3 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 (MSM8210) |
| Cores | 1.2GHz, dual core |
| RAM | 1GB |
| ROM | 8GB |
| External memory | Micro SD card up to 32GB (not included) |
| WiFi | 802.11b/g/n wireless internet |
| Network type | GSM+UMTS |
| Frequency | GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz UMTS 850/900/1900/2100MHz |
| GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 3.0 |
| NFC | Yes |
| Screen | 4.5 inch capacitive touch |
| Screen resolution | 854 x 480 (FWVGA) |
| Main camera | 5.0MP auto focus, with flash |
| Front camera | 2.0MP |
| SIM Card Slot | Dual Standby, Dual SIM |
| Micro SD card Slot | Yes |
| Micro USB Slot | Yes, USB 2.0 |
| Audio Out Port | Yes (3.5mm audio out port) |
| Battery | 1800mAh (removable) |
| Additional Features | Accelerometer, FM, Proximity Sensor, GPS W / A-GPS support, Ambient Light Sensor |
Additional documentation
See the MDN Flame page.
FAQs
- Q: What's the difference between the Flame and the ZTE Open C?
- A: The Flame hardware is far more complete than the ZTE Open C. For a "reference device" we need all of the hardware in the phone that our software supports. The ZTE device does not include several critical pieces of hardware including: front-facing camera. auto-focus and flash on main camera. NFC. Dual-SIM. Software-configurable RAM (up to 1GB that's in the phone, compared to half that in the ZTE). While the ZTE Open C is a fine device, it's just not "complete" in terms of being able to support all of Firefox OS software development.