KaiOS Technologies Inc., developer of the emerging operating system for smart feature phones, KaiOS, today announced a $22M Series A investment from Google to help bring the internet to the next generation of users.
[…]
In addition to the investment, Google and KaiOS have also agreed to work together to make the Google Assistant, Google Maps, YouTube, and Google Search available to KaiOS users. These apps have been developed specifically for the KaiOS platform, which is entirely web-based, using open standards such as HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS.
You’re probably not aware of KaiOS, since it only runs on feature phones most of us don’t use. KaiOS is a fork of FirefoxOS, and is actually quite popular – it’s already on 40 million feature phones, including various Nokia phones. Google’s investment makes sense here, and ensures its services are available on these devices. I’m still contemplating buying the 8110 (in yellow, of course) to get acquainted with KaiOS.
these are probably bought by the people that want a phone that doesn’t have google services…
Interesting, since FirefoxOS was dropped by Mozilla itself?
Yes, Firefox OS was canceled a little over two years ago. Some developers (including me) tried to keep it viable for a while but to no avail. KaiOS was forked from the latest version of Firefox OS and developed from there. Quite a few KaiOS developers are former Mozilla developers who had previously worked on Firefox OS.
Does KaiOS using the Quantum engine? Or is it stuck on Gecko similar to Palemoon etc.. if the latter is the case it’s a dead end most likely.
This is… ironic because I wanted an 8110 (whenever it’s released in USA) because it was not in any way related to google.
I currently use a 2009 Sony Ericsson Elm, a very good feature phone since it includes GPS. Since they’re cheap now, I have 5 now I think, so that if it breaks I can carry right on with the phone I like.
A good feature phone is infinitely better an experience than a cheap Android phone.
The new 8110 is the only new feature phone I’ve seen that presents a replacement for my trust-worthy Elms.
Oh yes! The budget android can be maddening. A good feature-phone is much better.
However, I don’t like phones – it’s just a portable internet device for me, so a feature phone defeats my purpose.
Ive switched to a Nokia 3310 3G as part of a detox from all things smartphone (the endless scrolling on twitter and the like is just to continent for me to stop).
The only thing I really struggle without is WhatsApp. If KaiOS gains that support (as was rumored) it would be my ideal.
With Google putting their money in, I am unsure if it is now more or less likely to get support. Will Google want Facebook apps getting a foothold in Jio Phone / Indian market or try to push whatever version of Google Chat is their favorite today?
It’ be nice if numbers built up for WebOS/LuneOS like that. It was a web framework (on top of linux), so I feel it can appeal to feature phone users and power users alike.
I have a feature phone myself, and it runs KaiOS. The entire idea for having one, at least for me, is that it doesn’t have any relationship with either Google nor Apple. It doesn’t have the Android update nightmare. No one cares about unconstitutionally searching them, and all it really does is act like a phone. If I want to do more I have a far more capable (and easier for input) laptop.
Google dumping millions into KaiOS worries me. I don’t want Google tainting yet more software with their intrusive snooping. Maybe we’ll finally get to the point of a legal backlash, but I doubt it. The frog is already at the point of being boiled alive here in the US.
Edited 2018-06-30 02:40 UTC