Is Mozilla Aiming Firefox OS at Tablets and Phones?

While Mozilla has not officially taken the wraps off a specific device, The Register, CNET and other media outlets have followed up on reports regarding the Mozilla Foundation saying that it is working with Apple hardware specialist Foxconn on a tablet device that will run the new Firefox OS mobile platform. Until now, there had only been phones discussed for the operating system, which Mozilla is putting massive resources behind. Not only is the news of a tablet of interest, but Foxconn is a world-class hardware partner for Mozilla to have.

According to The Register, there isn't complete confirmation that the new device will be a tablet:

"The foundation told Reuters it had teamed up with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co on the device as part of its global expansion plans for the operating system. Local news service Focus Taiwan has reported an 'industry insider' as saying the device is a tablet, although we could not immediately confirm this."

CNET notes that the official announcement from Mozilla will arrive on June 3, and also speculates that the new device is a tablet:

"Rumors have surfaced lately that Mozilla has been working on a Firefox OS tablet, especially since the company recently debuted two smartphones running on the operating system."

Mozilla is shifting its top executives around and retooling its strategy as Firefox OS gets set to make a splash. LG Electronics, China Unicom, America Movil, ZTE, and Deutsche Telekom are all partnered with Mozilla on new Firefox OS phones, and the company is working with at least 18 network operators.

In all likelihood, a new tablet running Firefox OS would be a budget-based offering, as is true of the first Firefox OS phones. And, if Mozilla does have a tablet strategy, it will be essential to get app developers working on compelling tablet apps.

We will follow up on Mozilla's June 3 announcement.  Stay tuned.