Mobile Opportunity

	Mobile Opportunity
	Owner: the Mozilla Foundation	Updated: 2014-05-27
	This is a cross-Mozilla research project investigating how to put the power of the web in more hands, in more places— particularly emerging digital economies.

Internal presentation: [link to initial slide deck]

Scope of research

1. How can we give new smartphone users the power to participate and make the web?
2. How can we dramatically increase supply of local apps in emerging markets?
3. How can we differentiate Firefox OS, drive demand for devices?

Activities

1. Accelerate and test on-device app authoring
2. Develop training and programs for app making with community
3. Facilitate pilot programs and user research with low-end hardware in market

• India / Bangladesh (Telenor)
• Brazil (Telefonica)
• Kenya (TBD)

Project outcomes

1. Publish results in white paper with GSMA
2. Feasibility study for launching on-device apps authoring as future part of Firefox OS
3. Evaluate options, produce business plans
4. Commit to longer-term initiatives
5. Discuss the work at MWC, make appropriate announcements about future mobile for development work

Structure

The “core team” is a hybrid engineering / field research team developing a set of prototypes for mobile apps authoring; for designing pilot programs in field with target users and target hardware; for facilitating and studying these pilots; and for developing a set of partner integration points including mobile money, SMS, marketplace, and other value-added services.

The wider group of advisors will help link this team to market insights, user research, strategy, philanthropic partnerships, Gaia, marketplace, brand, marketing, community, and other Mozilla functions. The Mozilla Foundation Appmaker team provides essential support.

Mozilla Foundation is negotiating partnerships to bring additional resources and expertise to the project. These partners are interested in presenting our experiments and learnings as part of a broader macroeconomic research agenda.

Weekly call

TBD

Calendar

TBD

Core team

TBD

Advisors

Ben Moskowitz: program strategist, director of philanthropic partnerships Ria Joy: advise on partner research agenda, product strategy Harald Kirschner: advise on Marketplace / carrier API integration Michael Henretty: advise on Gaia optimization Rina Jensen: advise content trends Rory Petty: advise on program design Michelle Thorne: Webmaker and Reps community Emily Goligoski: user research lead

Documentation and research

File:FrogConcept

https://wiki.mozilla.org/AppMaker

Executive support

• Chris Beard
• Mark Surman
• Pete Scanlon
• Rick Fant