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.
