When the Mozilla Foundation announced that they would be creating a HTML5 web-focused open source mobile phone, many asked whether the world really needed another mobile OS, and whether any new entrant could compete with the open source Google-backed Android.
Well, it appears that there is certainly interest in such an OS from the developer community, because Geeksphone, the smartphone OEM startup based out of Madrid, sold out of both the $119 Keon and the more powerful $194 Peak within hours of them going on sale. The Keon offers a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 4GB of storage (with a MicroSD-slot), whilst the Peak offer a 1.2GHz processor upgrade, a better 8 megapixel camera and an improved qHD display.
These two smartphones are essentially “preview” devices, to give developers a chance to try out the new Linux-based OS before they go on sale more generally in five initial countries in June. But while developer previews are only small batches, it’s great to see such enthusiasm from the developer community looking for alternatives outside of Apple, Google, Microsoft, and BlackBerry.
Wow initial previsions were largely surpassed! Devices will be back on stock in a few hours, thanks for your support!
— Geeksphone (@geeksphone) April 23, 2013