Mozilla begins repackaging Firefox OS apps for Android

Mozilla has today extended its Open Web App repackaging to Android.

Users of Firefox for Android are now able to install apps from the Firefox Marketplace, and have them install and behave like a regular Android app.

"As a developer, you can now build your Open Web App for Firefox OS devices and have that app reach millions of existing Firefox for Android users without having to change a single line of code," said the announcement blog post.

For users to be able to install repackaged apps, they will have to allow the installation of apps from unknown sources.

Mozilla already packages Firefox OS apps for Windows, OS X, and Linux desktop users, with today's announcement being its first foray into repackaging for mobile ecosystems.

"We’d love to support Open Web Apps on iOS devices, but iOS does not, at this time, include the option to install a Gecko-based web browser, which is currently needed to support Open Web Apps," the company said in October.

Mozilla is working with Apache Cordova, previously known as PhoneGap, to allow repackaged Firefox OS apps to run on iOS.

Mozilla yesterday took the wraps off of two new hardware partnerships to launch Firefox OS devices in India, as well as a deal with Chunghwa Telecom to bring its devices to Taiwan.