Free software community Mozilla announced its partnership with major telecom operators to develop new easy-to-use Firefox OS-powered mobile phones scheduled to be available in 2016 at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2015.

First released in 2013, Firefox OS was developed by Mozilla as an open source operating system based on the Linux Kernel.

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The telecom operators joining forces with Mozilla include U.S.-based telecom company Verizon Communications, Inc., Spanish telecom and broadband provider Telefónica, S.A., South Korean firm LG Uplus and Japanese telecom operator KDDI.

The partnership is aimed at providing consumers worldwide with intuitive and easy-to-use mobile phones based on the Firefox operating system.

"By leveraging Firefox OS and the power of the Web, we are re-imagining and providing a modern platform for entry-level phones," said Li Gong, President of Mozilla.

"We're excited to work with operator partners like KDDI, LG U+, Telefonica and Verizon Wireless to reach new audiences in both emerging and developed markets and offer customers differentiated services."

According to a report, the new phones will bring together both the simplicity of a basic phone such as calls and texts, and the more advanced features of a smartphone such as apps, web browsing, navigation, music players, cameras and LTE/VoLTE.

"We have been gaining high attention from the market with Fx0, a high tier LTE based Firefox OS smartphone launched last December, and we have faith in the unlimited potential of Firefox OS." said Yasuhide Yamamoto KDDI's vice president of product sector.

"Telefónica is actively supporting Firefox OS, aligned with our strategy of bringing more options and more openness to our customers." said Francisco Montalvo, Telefónica's director of devices unit.

Verizon said it plans to continue working with Mozilla and the other service providers on leveraging the power of Firefox OS and the Web community.

TagsMozilla, Firefox OS, Operating System, verizon, Telefonica, LG Uplus, KDDI