Mozilla representatives at CES in Las Vegas have revealed that Firefox OS is just two weeks away from completion.

Mozilla's mobile operating system – which was formerly known as Boot to Gecko – is based around HTML5, and will feature a marketplace of web apps with the capacity to access handset APIs.

In this way, Mozilla claims it will 'free' the mobile landscape from the "rules and restrictions of existing proprietary platforms," handing greater freedom to OEMs, operators and developers in the process.

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Mobile carriers are certainly behind the idea, and O2 parent company Telefónica has plans to launch its first Firefox OS handsets in 'early 2013.' Deutsche Telekom, Sprint and Telecom Italia (among others) have also publicly backed Mozilla's open web operating system.

Whether consumers will be won over is another question, though. Mozilla has said that its OS has the potential to "deliver compelling smartphone experiences at attainable prices," which could see the platform gain ground in developing markets.

The operating system's open nature will no doubt be appealing to tinkerers and certain developers, but it's worth noting that Firefox OS faces competition in this department.

Samsung recently confirmed that its first Tizen smartphones will launch in 2013, for instance and Ubuntu is set to make its smartphone debut in 2014.

[source: The Verge]