Fennec (Mobile Firefox) for Symbian

Today we (Mozilla) are focusing our efforts in mobile on Linux and Windows Mobile devices. In Q3 2008 Symbian had 49.8% of the total smartphone sales (and 57% in Q2) according to Gartner compared to 11.1% for Windows Mobile and 7.2% for Linux. There are a few other platforms: iPhone, RIM and Android that have or are gaining market share, where we for technical or licensing reasons can’t be deployed. So in order for Mozilla to be relevant in the smartphone space we need to have a presence on the Symbian platform. We have worked with Symbian to understand and scope the size of the project and Symbian are supporting this with engineers to start working on this project so far. At the same time, several Symbian houses are interested in contributing work.

We have now kicked off a project in an incubator repository to get the development kick-started and are inviting everybody who is interested in seeing Fennec (Mobile Firefox) on Symbian to get involved. Harry Li already started some of this work, where he has ported NSPR to Symbian.

The current high-level plan (that we will revise as we move forward) is split into 5 phases:

Fennec compiling and linking
Basic/limited browsing possible
Full browsing
Fennec ready for initial testing
Bug fixing and productisation of Fennec

Want to get involved? Take a look at the wiki or join us on irc on #mobile for general mobile discussions or #symbian for Symbian specific discussions.

In my next post I will write more details about how the actual work will be done and a more detailed breakdown of the schedule. Drop a comment if there is something else you would like to see me cover in the next post.

Update: The dates in the high-level plan are for 2009 (here’s’ looking at you Doug)

Symbian

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 10th, 2008, 2:13 pm and is filed under Fennec, Mozilla, mobile. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

#1 by essor - December 11th, 2008 at 18:50

really nice!!! thanks for the work!!

by the way, what about s60 5th edition(5800, N97)? Will this also be developed?

Quote

#2 by christian - December 11th, 2008 at 20:58

We will start out by using S60 3rd Edition FP2 v1.1, but it shouldn’t be hard to move to a newer version afterwards.

#3 by Gerv - December 12th, 2008 at 11:44

Why can’t we deploy on Android?

Gerv

#4 by christian - December 12th, 2008 at 13:44

@gerv currently Android does not have a way of installing native apps. So the only alternative – currently – is to write Java apps for Android.

#5 by Lars Gunther - December 14th, 2008 at 15:23

As i am contemplating uying a Nókia N97 this is great news. Having Firefox on my mobile is very essential, with Foxmarks or Weave of course.
But why is Android out of the question? that seems odd!

#6 by christian - December 14th, 2008 at 16:11

@Lars Gunther: Please see comment 6.

#7 by Heitor Ramon Ribeiro - December 16th, 2008 at 12:42

Hi there, ive notice that you wont develop for apples, android but will you develop for Windows Mobile based devices?
The newest ones now are using WinMo, like Omnia, HTCs.

Thanks.

And Great Job!

#8 by christian - December 17th, 2008 at 02:34

@Heitor: We are actively working on a Windows Mobile version and you can build it yourself following these instructions: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Build/Windows_Mobile_Build_Instructions

You can also follow the progress of the port here: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile through the weekly meetings (or meeting notes) and/or joining #wince on IRC.

#9 by martín alzugaray - February 10th, 2009 at 21:16

Está versión del firefox para la plataforma s60 contara con el soporte flash para visualizar videos flv y demás contenido relacionado, contara con algún administrador de descargas Desde ya se agradece está respuesta y demás comentarios al respecto.

#10 by martín alzugaray - February 10th, 2009 at 21:20

Está versión del firefox para s60 contara con soporte flash para visualizar videos flv y demás contenido, contara con algún administrador de descargar y o acelerador de descargar. Desde ya se agradece cualquier comentario al respecto.

#11 by Jon Pritchard - March 1st, 2009 at 19:23

Will Fennec also be able to run on S60 3rd FP1?

#12 by Jon Pritchard - March 1st, 2009 at 19:24

I hope that it will also be able to run on the slightly older FP1 devices. As devices like the N95 and N82 use the exact same processor as the N800 and N810 internet tablets, if my knowledge is correct.

#13 by Marco - March 7th, 2009 at 06:19

Today is 7th March… no sign of Basic/limited browsing possible on Symbian…

#14 by christian - March 8th, 2009 at 17:00

@Marco: The high-level plan has changed somewhat and I will shortly write a blog about where we are at, where we could use some help and how we will proceed over the next few months. The up-to-date plan is available here: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Symbian

#15 by randa - April 10th, 2009 at 10:16

christian :
We will start out by using S60 3rd Edition FP2 v1.1, but it shouldn’t be hard to move to a newer version afterwards.

whoa… but what about s60 3rd edition FP 1 ??
I want to try Fennec on my Nokia e51 which is FP 1..
I’ve been waiting since december 08..

#16 by Anabbilk - May 3rd, 2009 at 18:48

hh.. love it..

#17 by gzzzz - May 15th, 2009 at 23:38

> https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Symbian
Looks like even an alpha build for s60 may not be out until Q4 2009 ?

By that period, there will be 3 or 4 devices on the new S60 5th edition (with touch support). Will this project be dropped or is it still going on ? will FF support Touch screen s60 devices ? Thanks.

#18 by christian - May 16th, 2009 at 11:49

@gzzzz: This project is still ongoing and we would love for people to help out. Please let me know if you are interested.
We are still aiming at having a demo app rendering a web page by end of this month. By the time we have a working build for Symbian, we expect to also have a non-touch UI for Fennec and thus we will support both touch and non-touch devices, also for Symbian.

#19 by Joseph9560 - May 23rd, 2009 at 03:29

We would love to have firefox aka fennec in our s60. We really need it as the opera is never updated for us. And now its about 7 days left till we get basic rendering app.

#20 by Tony Pugliese - May 30th, 2009 at 22:55

I would like to put fennec on my nokia e71. Any progress in this? Any way I can help.

#21 by Tony Pugliese - May 30th, 2009 at 22:56

I would like to put fennac on my e71x. An progress on this and can I help.

#22 by christian - May 31st, 2009 at 12:12

@Tony Pugliese: I have been rather bad at giving updates on the progress of Fennec for Symbian. Expect to see a update on my blog this week.

As for helping out, we can always use more help. You can join us on IRC on #symbian or #mobile on irc.mozilla.org or you can send me an email.

#23 by Tony Pugliese - May 31st, 2009 at 21:18

having trouble getting through on your email. can you send me an email.

#24 by field - June 18th, 2009 at 18:26

Please tell me about fennec development. I use a nokia n95.

#25 by Field - June 18th, 2009 at 18:43

If I can help.

#26 by Field - June 18th, 2009 at 19:06

But could there be a reason why fennec has not been released up to now? Or is it still within the time frame? Also (this may be too late), I wanted to point out that symbian users have been looking for a browser that is able to support flash and still handle text properly. Thank you.

#27 by joseph - June 21st, 2009 at 11:42

when? When? Waiting waiting!

#28 by Dave - June 26th, 2009 at 20:10

Does anyone know if Fennec will work on the Samsung Behold? I have searched Google and can’t seem to find the OS for it (everything lists “other” or “proprietary”). Also, I looked at the mozilla link listed above by Christian and it says “code review 6/15/09″. Any status changes? Has anyone been able to render pages?

#29 by lordloki - July 1st, 2009 at 05:37

I would love to help test, I have been part of the firefox (firebird, phoenix) testing community for coming up on 7 years at this point, and have a nokia e71 to test on. christian, is there a place we can get your email address to contact you?

#30 by Fred - July 1st, 2009 at 11:13

What´s going on, guys?

#31 by Joseph9560 - July 1st, 2009 at 15:13

When when when, waiting waiting, waiting. Counting counting counting, days months, years??

#32 by Joseph9560 - July 7th, 2009 at 17:23

I think its same like opera mobile. Just promising that it will come one day. So long firefox.

#33 by Field - July 12th, 2009 at 19:04

I think thinking that fennec will come to life is like one of the beliefs that does the rounds here.

#34 by wlk - July 13th, 2009 at 00:06

thankkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssssssss

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