KaiOS, the light OS for affordable devices, forked from the now-defunct FirefoxOS software, just got more interesting following their announcement at MWC 2018. Partnering with some huge names in the industry they might well be able to continue to deliver modern features and applications to those markets where cost and technology constraints are very real.
You may not have heard of them, but KaiOS Technologies, maker of the KaiOS mobile operating system, is making waves at MWC. They just announced partnerships with mobile giants including Facebook, Google, Twitter, HMD/Nokia, NXP, Qualcomm, and others.
These partnerships will result in affordable new feature phones, powered by KaiOS, which give users access to the most popular social media apps, and global information in a lite phone package.
Below is an overview of the announcements:
- Apps: Facebook, Twitter, AirFind, Google will be available via the Kai app store
- Devices: HMD/Nokia, Doro, Bullitt, MicroMax
- Chipsets & Technologies: NXP, Qualcomm, Spreadtrum
To be clear, Kai isn’t competing with popular smartphones like the iPhone or the Samsung Galaxy; instead, they’re on a mission to reach users that don’t want, or can’t afford, smartphones. With Kai, it’s about turning the digital divide into an opportunity for all mobile users.
KaiOS is the lightest OS, enabling a new category of affordable phones and other IoT devices. KaiOS is based on HTML5 and uses limited memory, so KaiOS-powered devices can perform with just 512MB of RAM, with even lighter options as low as 256MB coming later this year. This achievement is significant because it allows Kai’s partners to keep products affordable, while still offering a full suite of features for a great user experience.
