Mozilla confirmed that it is shuttering a group tasked with creating an operating system for connected devices, the category pegged as the “Internet of things,” or IoT.
It was the second defeat in 14 months for Mozilla projects aimed at producing commercial hardware products.
“We have shifted our internal approach to the IoT opportunity to step back from a focus on launching and scaling commercial products to one focused on research and advanced development,” a Mozilla spokesman said in an email reply to questions. The open-source developer will dissolve its connected devices project, and will instead “incorporate our IoT explorations into an increased focus on emerging technologies. ”
The group’s closure will result in layoffs, but Mozilla declined to name a number or substantiate claims by CNET , which earlier Thursday reported that the open-source developer would shed 50 jobs, or about 5% of its workforce.
“There will be role eliminations as part of these internal changes as we need fewer and different roles as part of this shift in approach,” Mozilla acknowledged. Some of those who worked on the now-closed connected devices project may move to other groups within Mozilla.
