Curious developers and customers can now test out the Mozilla's Firefox OS, courtesy of a pair of developer preview units from small Spanish phone maker Geeksphone. 

Once an Android handset maker, Geeksphone now makes part of the Firefox OS evangelists, alongside the likes of ZTE and operators such as Telefonica. 

What makes the platform different is the way it handles HTML5 apps-- web apps written in the language are native, meaning Firefox OS apps built should run on other smartphone platforms. 

“With early access to hardware, developers can test the capabilities of Firefox OS in a real environment with a mobile network and true hardware characteristics like the accelerometer and camera that are not easily tested on the Firefox OS Simulator,” a Mozilla blog post by head of developer engagement Stormy Peters reads. “Plus, new hardware is fun to play with!”

Geeksphone offers 2 Firefox OS phones-- the Keon (a low-cost, modestly-specced 3.5-inch number with a 1GHz Qualcomm processor and a 3MP camera) and the Peak (a 4.3-inch number with a dual-core Qualcomm 1.2GHz processor and 8MP camera). Both devices also feature 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, MicroSD slot, wifi, Bluetooth and micro USB port, and should be shipping now. 

Go Geeksphone

Go Geeksphone to start Selling Firefox OS Developer Preview Phones (Mozilla blog)