Intex Set to Launch Firefox OS Smartphone Under Rs. 2,000 on August 25

Intex, as promised a couple of months ago, seems all set to finally launch its first Firefox OS-based smartphone, the Cloud FX this month.

The company has started sending media invites for an event
scheduled on August 25. Intex is touting that the event will see the
launch of "India's lowest priced smartphone."

Intex has already revealed that the company's first Firefox OS
smartphone will be called Cloud FX and will be priced under
Rs. 2,000.

There's no doubt that the launch of Firefox-OS based smartphones will offer Indian consumers more options in the entry-level segment than just the dominating Android OS platform.

The Indian smartphone market has lately seen some major Android
handset makers, such as Micromax, Motorola, and Samsung, pushing
their smartphones into the sub-Rs. 10,000 category. The launch of a
new Firefox OS smartphone will definitely increase competition in the
budget smartphone segment for
domestic as well as global handset manufacturers.

The company had also announced some of specifications of the Intex
Cloud FX smartphone, which will include a 3.5-inch display (resolution
unspecified), and will be powered by a 1GHz processor (number of
cores unspecified).

Other features detailed by Intex for its Cloud FX smartphone running
Firefox OS include a 2-megapixel rear camera, as well as Wi-Fi and
 Bluetooth connectivity.

Notably, the specifications detailed by Intex were noticeably similar
 to the reference $25 Firefox OS smartphone platform unveiled by
 Mozilla and
Spreadtrum at MWC.

The reference $25 (roughly Rs. 1,500) Firefox OS smartphone is
 based on the Spreadtrum SC6821 chipset, which supports 3.5-inch
 HVGA (320x480 pixels) touchscreens, integrated Wi-Fi and
 Bluetooth connectivity, FM radio and camera functions, and access
 to HTML 5 apps. We can expect the Intex Cloud FX to sport the
 same display resolution and connectivity features mentioned by
 Spreadtrum.

Apart from Intex, Mozilla had named Spice as another Firefox OS
 smartphone partner for the Indian market.

Unfortunately, we are yet to hear any official word from Spice on the
 launch of its first Firefox OS smartphone. An earlier report had
claimed a July timeframe for the launch of Spice's first Firefox OS
 smartphone; however, that never happened.

Intex to Launch Sub-Rs. 2,000 'Cloud FX' Firefox OS Smartphone in August

Soon after Mozilla's announcement that domestic handset manufacturers Intex and Spice were going to be launching Firefox OS-based smartphones in the 'next few months,' Intex and Spice have made statements to the same effect.

While Spice has only provided a July timeframe for the launch of its first Firefox OS smartphone, and said (via BGR) it would be a dual-SIM supporting device, Intex has listed some specifications of its first Firefox OS smartphone as well.

Intex in a statement on Thursday said its first Firefox OS smartphone, the Intex Cloud FX, would be priced under Rs. 2,000 when it launches in the first week of August. The company said the Cloud FX would sport a 3.5-inch display (resolution unspecified), and be powered by a 1GHz processor (number of cores unspecified).

Other features detailed by Intex for its Cloud FX smartphone running Firefox OS include a 2-megapixel rear camera, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The specifications detailed by Intex are conspicuously similar to the reference $25 Firefox OS smartphone platform unveiled by Mozilla and Spreadtrum at MWC 2014.

The reference $25 (roughly Rs. 1,500) Firefox OS smartphone is based on the Spreadtrum SC6821 chipset, which supports 3.5-inch HVGA (320x480 pixels) touchscreens, integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, FM radio and camera functions, and access to HTML 5 apps. We can expect the Intex Cloud FX to sport the same display resolution and connectivity features mentioned by Spreadtrum.

Commenting on the launch, Sanjay Kumar Kalirona, Business Head of the Mobile vertical at Intex, said, "Intex association with Mozilla Firefox is a step towards our brand's promise to offer quality products to our consumers to improve their lives and set industry benchmarks. Intex Cloud FX is aimed at fulfilling the idea of - 'Smartphone for all' which will be priced below Rs. 2,000. This smartphones will be equipped with enhanced phone and browser features of Firefox OS with an access to a rich ecosystem of latest web applications improving users overall smartphone experience at affordable prices"

Intex in its statement also added it is targeting sales of 3 million smartphones this year, after selling 1.5 million last year. So far, Spice has not provided more details about its unnamed Firefox OS smartphone that's due in July. We'll keep you updated as soon as we know more. What do you think of the sub-Rs. 2,000 Firefox OS smartphones due to hit the Indian market as soon as next month? Do they stand a chance against Android in the intensely competitive budget smartphone space? Let us know in the comments section below.