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Comment by OlavHN | Hacker News Reader

If you refer to fragmentation as manufacturers slowing down upgrades because they are "differentiating" their Android devices then I believe the web ecosystem already has some experience there dealing with different browsers :)

I believe an alternative mobile ecosystem not centrally controlled like iOS and Android, but rather with a standardised core and fragmentation / innovation on top is a very exciting model. It's working great for the web, why is mobile fundamentally any different? It beats having to program every application three times from scratch to reach a full market.

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> It beats having to program every application three times from scratch to reach a full market.

How are you going to counteract the interests of Apple/Google and other established players, who are going to hold onto their turf with all the power the network effect will give them?

Apple's and Google's (and Microsoft's) platforms already contain web browsers. The "web platform" already exists on every relevant device sold on the planet. The only variable is to what degree each browser implements web standards.

The biggest missing piece of the puzzle is a webapp store that enables distribution, promotion, and monetization. And you don't even need a native app for this, as the "webapp store" could just as easily be a web page, thereby surpassing e.g. Apple's and Google's 30% cut (what are they going to do, block the web page?).

It's a long shot, but if Mozilla can pull it off it would be a huge leap for openness and consumer choice.

> thereby surpassing e.g. Apple's and Google's 30% cut

I think you meant 'bypassing'.

I did! I heartily depreciate your diligence.

> what are they going to do, block the web page?

I know for a fact that this can be attempted in iOS. I bought a Chinese iPad 2, and it has google.com blocked.

It's interesting (and somewhat surprising) that very few in this thread are criticising the "web stack" for being slow or lacking features or something along those lines.

If web standards now are getting performant and expressive enough to compete with dedicated, close-to-the-metal, technology stacks on mobile then the altruistic incentives of the web ecosystem might be enough. The incumbents have their incentives less aligned with users.

I'm not convinced Google will crush attempts at making the web a first class citizen on phones. After having pushed and developed the web for so long I think they already see it as their turf.

Their network effect doesn't extend everywhere -- Mozilla is initially pushing this in regions where there's a definite gap in the market.

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