Every mobile platform lives and dies by its apps. Firefox OS is no exception, and given the current state of its store, it desperately needs help. One of the trickiest challenges for Mozilla has been bringing high-profile apps to its shores, and WhatsApp sits at the top of the list. With the imminent arrival of Firefox OS 2.5, the operating system will finally count a compatible version of the popular messenger among its ranks.
If you've lost track of Firefox OS over the past few months, well... we can't really blame you. We all know the benefits Mozilla put on the table with its mobile platform, but enthusiasm for Firefox OS remains essentially one-sided. Of course, the agreement with Telefónica is still active, and a few smartphones have already appeared in Spain and Latin America, yet providers and devices are just two pieces of a very complex puzzle. The other piece is apps, and that's where Firefox OS falls to its knees in the desert begging for water. Many hope the situation will change with Firefox OS 2.5, and its first companion will be none other than WhatsApp.
An official client at last
Until now, Firefox OS users had to bet everything on alternative WhatsApp clients, which, as has already been demonstrated, have neither the approval nor the sympathy of Facebook, currently the mastermind behind the messenger. Fortunately, that conflict is about to disappear. The WhatsApp client that appeared in the Firefox OS store is official, so there will be no fighting with configuration. It's expected that there won't be major functional differences compared to the Android build, but being an initial version, it's logical to assume it will come with its share of bugs.
A rocky start for early users
The first reviews of WhatsApp for Firefox OS have been negative for a single reason: it doesn't work with versions prior to 2.5. In other words, anyone carrying a Firefox OS smartphone will first have to wait and apply the new build, then install WhatsApp. Personally, I hope WhatsApp is the first of many apps to make their way to Firefox OS. If Mozilla wants to succeed with its vision of an open platform based on Web standards, it needs to multiply resources for developers and avoid the fragmentation trap no matter what.
