Re: Defining our mission

[Michiel de Jong]

Maybe we can say our mission is:

To build data sync functionality for web apps
* that run on connected devices,
* leaving the user in full control of choosing where their data is synced to,
* using B2G as our reference platform where no standardized cross-browser technologies exist yet.

On Fri, Nov 20, 2015 at 11:06 AM, Michiel de Jong <mbde...@mozilla.com> wrote:

Let's have an open discussion to formulate what our mission is! :)

As Mitchell Baker wrote in https://blog.lizardwrangler.com/2014/11/10/mozilla-and-the-future-of-the-open-internet/ we should make sure the internet stops moving in the wrong direction. Take a minute to read that blogpost, it's very well written. :)

The problem of "devices that only work with one cloud service" is very similar to the problem of "websites that only work in Internet Explorer" which we had 10 years ago. I think Mitchell is right in saying Mozilla can again play an important role in fixing this problem.

Data sync is a very central part of this. There is a movement towards connected devices that are hard-coded to one specific cloud service, which limits the freedom of the user: Android syncs to Google, WindowsPhone syncs to Microsoft, iOS syncs to Apple, and soon IoT devices will probably only sync to their manufacturer's IoT platform.

To kick off this discussion, I think our mission should be to build "net-neutral connected devices", not the pre-configured "service end-points" which most internet users currently own, simply because that's what they find in the shops.

Thoughts?

Cheers,

Michiel.