KaiOS
{{Short description|Mobile operating system designed for feature phones}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2021}}{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = KaiOS
| logo = KaiOS logo.svg
| logo size = 250px
| logo caption =
| logo alt =
| screenshot =
| caption =
| screenshot_alt =
| developer = KaiOS Technologies (Hong Kong) Limited (with TCL as largest shareholder){{cite web|url=https://Technology-Info.net/index.php/2019/09/02/the-brics-broke-the-monopoly-and-indias-hongmeng-took-off/|title=The BRICs broke the monopoly, and India's 'Hongmeng' took off|website=Technology-Info.net|publisher=|date=2 September 2019|access-date=|archive-date=10 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210025144/https://technology-info.net/index.php/2019/09/02/the-brics-broke-the-monopoly-and-indias-hongmeng-took-off/|url-status=dead}}
| working_state = Current
| source_model = Source-available (except for the binary blobs)
| released = {{Start date and age|2017|10|df=y}}
| latest_release_version = 4.0
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2025|05|df=y}}
| latest_preview_version =
| latest_preview_date =
| marketing target = Feature phones
| programmed in = HTML, CSS, JavaScript, C++
| language = Afrikaans, Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Assamese, Azerbaijani, Basque, Belarusian, Bengali (Bangladesh), Bengali (India), Bodo, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dogri, Dutch, English (United Kingdom), English (United States), Estonian, Filipino, Finnish, French (Canada), French (France), Galician, Georgian, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hausa, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Kannada, Kashmiri, Kazakh, Khmer, Konkani, Lao, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Maithili, Malay, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Norwegian, Oriya, Pashto, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Punjabi, Romanian (Moldavia), Romanian (Romania), Russian, Sanskrit, Santali, Serbian (Latin and Cyrillic alphabet), Simplified Chinese, Sindhi, Sinhalese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish (Latin America),
Spanish (Spain), Swahili, Swedish, Tajik, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong), Traditional Chinese (Taiwan), Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Xhosa, Zulu
| language count = 88
| language footnote = {{Cite web |title=Languages |url=https://www.kaiostech.com/help-center/languages/ |access-date= |website=KaiOS |language=en-US}}
| update model =
| package_manager = KaiStore
| supported_platforms = ARM
| kernel_type = Monolithic (Linux)
| ui = Graphical
| license = Proprietary, Linux kernel patches under GPLv2,
B2G under MPL{{cite web|url=https://support.kaiostech.com/support/solutions/articles/35000078432-can-i-access-the-source-code-|title=Can I access the source code?|website=Support.KaiOStech.com|publisher=KaiOS Technologies|date=2018-08-06|access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415143738/https://support.kaiostech.com/support/solutions/articles/35000078432-can-i-access-the-source-code-|archive-date=2019-04-15|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://github.com/kaiostech/gecko-b2g|title=KaiOStech/gecko-b2g|date=29 July 2020|website=GitHub.com|publisher=GitHub|access-date= }}{{cite web|url=https://www.kaiostech.com/terms-of-service-2/|title=Terms of Service|website=KaiOStech.com|publisher=KaiOS Technologies|date=2021 |access-date=2022-04-15}}
| preceded by = Firefox OS, Nokia Asha platform
| succeeded by =
| website = {{URL|https://www.kaiostech.com}}
}}
File:Nokia 8110 4G.png "banana phone"]]
KaiOS is a mobile Linux distribution for keypad-based mobile phones. It is designed and optimised for affordable and low-power feature phones, while retaining access to Internet services through web apps, based on the Gecko engine.{{Cite web |title=Explore KaiOS • Features |url=https://www.kaiostech.com/explore/ |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=KaiOS |language=en-US}} KaiOS was originally forked from the former Firefox OS open-source project,{{cite web |title=KaiOS Source code |url=https://www.kaiostech.com/help-center/source-code-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112085808/https://www.kaiostech.com/help-center/source-code-2/ |archive-date=12 November 2022 |access-date=12 November 2022 |website=KaiOS}} and is developed by KaiOS Technologies (Hong Kong) Limited; a company based in Hong Kong, whose largest shareholder is Chinese electronics conglomerate TCL Corporation.{{Cite journal|last=Das|first=DJ|date=2019-10-10|title=DJ Das|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/9ea64c20-808c-4b4f-9ae8-f0d23963a8af|access-date=2021-09-02|website=Authors group|doi=10.1287/9ea64c20-808c-4b4f-9ae8-f0d23963a8af|s2cid=243202603|url-access=subscription}}
Overview and features
KaiOS supports modern connectivity technologies like 4G LTE, VoLTE, GPS, and Wi-Fi. KaiOS runs HTML5-based apps, supports over-the-air updates, and has a dedicated app marketplace called KaiStore.{{cite web |title=Store |url=https://www.kaiostech.com/store/ |access-date=1 November 2022 |website=KaiOS}} Some applications are preinstalled onto the phone, including Facebook and YouTube.{{cite web |date= |title=All you need to know about KaiOS that runs on Jio feature phone |url=http://www.Blogpoke.com/kaios-jio-feature-phone/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203123145/http://www.blogpoke.com/kaios-jio-feature-phone/ |archive-date=3 December 2017 |access-date= |website=Blogpoke.com |publisher=Blogpoke}} {{As of|2020|04|01|df=y}}, there are 500+ apps in KaiStore.
The mobile operating system is comparatively lightweight on hardware resource usage, and is able to run on devices with just 256 megabytes (MB) of memory.{{cite web |date=27 February 2018 |title=KaiOS is on 30 million phones and now has Google apps, Facebook, Twitter |url=https://MobilityArena.com/kaios-30-million-phones/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403051422/https://mobilityarena.com/kaios-30-million-phones/ |archive-date=3 April 2018 |access-date=2 April 2018 |website=MobilityArena.com |publisher=Mobility Arena}}
History
The operating system was first released in 2017, and is developed by KaiOS Technologies Inc., a Hong Kong–based{{cite web|title=Official LinkedIn page of KaiOS Technologies, Inc.|url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaiostechnologies|access-date=14 June 2020|website=LinkedIn.com|publisher=LinkedIn|quote="The team behind KaiOS currently numbers more than 280 people and continues to grow rapidly. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Kai has offices around the world, including the U.S., China, India, and France."; "KaiOS is a Hong Kong based company."}} company headed by CEO Sebastien Codeville, with offices in other countries. In June 2018, Google invested US$22 million in the operating system.{{cite web|date=28 June 2018|title=Google invests $22 million in the OS powering Nokia feature phones|url=https://www.TheVerge.com/2018/6/28/17513036/google-kaios-investment-feature-phones-firefox-os-apps-services-strategy|access-date=|website=TheVerge.com|publisher=The Verge}} That same year, India-based telecom operator Reliance Jio also invested $7 million through its sister concern, Reliance Retail for a 16% stake in the company.{{cite web|date=9 March 2018|title=Reliance Retail buys 16% stake in KaiOS maker for $7 million|url=https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/reliance-retail-buys-16-stake-in-kaios-maker-for-7-million/63238579|access-date=16 October 2023|website=The Economic Times}}{{cite web|last=Parikh|first=Prasham|date=24 April 2019|title=KaiOS and Jio are ready to serve 4G goodness to the unserved|url=https://eoto.tech/jio-kaios-india/|access-date=1 May 2019|website=EOTO.Tech|publisher=EOTO Tech|archive-date=1 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501175941/https://eoto.tech/jio-kaios-india/|url-status=dead}} In May 2019, KaiOS raised an additional $50 million USD from Cathay Innovation, and previous investors Google and TCL Holdings.{{cite web |last=Lunden |first=Ingrid |title=KaiOS raises $50M, hits 100M handsets powered by its feature phone OS |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/22/kaios-raises-50m-more-hits-100m-handsets-powered-by-its-feature-phone-os/ |website=TechCrunch |date=2019-05-22}}
In market share study results announced in May 2018, KaiOS beat Apple's iOS for second place in India,{{cite web|date=March 2019|title=KaiOS is doing well in India, but it's pulling some big numbers in US too|url=https://www.AndroidAuthority.com/kaios-usa-india-958519/|access-date=8 March 2019|website=www.AndroidAuthority.com|publisher=Android Authority}} while Android dominates with 71%, albeit down by 9%. KaiOS growth is being largely attributed to the popularity of the competitively-priced JioPhone.{{cite web|date=7 May 2018|title=JioPhone's KaiOS surpasses iOS to become India's second most popular mobile operating system|url=http://www.BGR.in/news/jiophone-kaios-surpasses-ios-india-second-most-popular-mobile-operating-system-android-smartphones-feature-phones-jio-4g/|access-date=18 August 2018|website=BGR.in|publisher=}} In Q1 2018, 23 million KaiOS devices were produced.{{cite web|date=12 July 2018|title=The second-largest mobile OS in India rhymes with iOS, but isn't iOS|url=https://www.AndroidAuthority.com/india-kaios-market-share-885349/|access-date=8 March 2019|website=www.AndroidAuthority.com|publisher=Android Authority}}
{{As of|2018|February|df=y}}, KaiOS Technologies has partnered with Mozilla, Airfind, Avenir Telecom (Energizer), Facebook, Google, Bullitt, Doro, HMD Global, Micromax, NXP, Spreadtrum, Qualcomm, Jio, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Orange S.A.{{cite web |date=26 February 2018 |title=MWC 2018: Kai announces partnerships with mobile industry giants - KaiOS |url=https://www.kaiostech.com/mwc-2018-kai-announces-partnerships-with-mobile-industry-giants/ |access-date= |website=www.KaiOStech.com |publisher=KaiOS Technologies}}{{cite web |date=11 March 2020 |title=Mozilla helps modernize feature phones powered by Firefox tech |url=https://www.CNET.com/news/mozilla-helps-modernize-feature-phones-powered-by-firefox-tech/ |access-date= |website=www.CNET.com |publisher=CNET}}
In March 2020, Mozilla and KaiOS Technologies announced a partnership to update KaiOS with a modern version of the Gecko browser engine, and more closely aligned testing infrastructure. This change should give KaiOS four years worth of performance and security improvements and new features, including TLS 1.3, WebAssembly, WebGL 2.0, Progressive Web Apps, new video codecs like WebP, AV1, and modern JavaScript and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) features.{{cite web|last=Shankland|first=Stephen|date=|title=Mozilla helps modernize feature phones powered by Firefox tech|url=https://www.CNET.com/news/mozilla-helps-modernize-feature-phones-powered-by-firefox-tech/|access-date=23 April 2020|website=www.CNET.com|publisher=CNET}}{{cite web|last=Itimu|first=Kiruti|date=2020-03-11|title=Mozilla is Back to Officially Supporting KaiOS in the Future|url=https://techweez.com/2020/03/11/mozilla-will-support-kaios-in-the-future/|access-date=2021-08-28|website=Techweez|language=en-US}}
Devices
Devices that are installed with KaiOS include (KaiStore may not be included, if device vendor removed it):{{cite web |title=Explore KaiOS • Devices |url=https://www.kaiostech.com/explore/devices/ |publisher=KaiOS Technologies |date=}}
- Alcatel Go Flip{{cite web |title=Alcatel GO FLIP™ |publisher=Alcatel OneTouch Canada |url=http://www.alcatelonetouch.ca/alcatel-go-flip#additional |date=16 June 2017}} (known as Cingular Flip 2 on AT&T,{{cite web |title=The Cingular Flip 2 is AT&T's newest clamshell phone |publisher=Phone Arena |url= https://www.phonearena.com/news/ATT-Cingular-Flip-2-price-features_id95434 |date=27 June 2017}} Alcatel MyFlip on TracFone Wireless{{cite web |title=Alcatel MyFlip (A405DL) |website=Tracfone shop |url= https://shop.tracfone.com/shop/en/tracfonestore/phones/tf-alcatel-my-flip-a405dl |publisher=TracFone}}) and 3088X
- Advan Hape Online (Indonesia) in partnership with Indosat Ooredoo.
- Reliance Jio's JioPhone, F10Q, F101K, F120B, F220B, F211S, F221S, F250Y, F271I, F30C, F41T, F50Y, F61F, F81E, F90M, LF-2401, LF-2402, LF-2403, LF-2403N, all branded as LYF,{{cite news |title=Reliance Jio LYF 4G VoLTE feature phone: to run KaiOS, will have an app store too |publisher=Indian Express |url= http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/mobile-tabs/reliance-jio-lyf-4g-volte-feature-phone-to-come-with-kaios-and-everything-else-we-know-4759916/ |date=20 July 2017}}{{cite web |title=[Exclusive] Reliance Jio and Lyf's 4G VoLTE feature phone |website=Techpp.com |url= http://techpp.com/2017/07/13/reliance-jio-4g-volte-feature-phone/ |date=13 July 2017}}{{cite web |title=Jio phone booking - pre book Jio mobile online for 500 only |url=https://www.Jio.com/en-in/book-jio-phone |publisher=Jio}}{{Cite news |title=JioPhone 2 at Rs 2,999: WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, all on new feature phone |newspaper=The Economic Times |location=India |url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/hardware/jiophone-gets-mega-makeover-feature-phone-with-whatsapp-youtube-facebook/articleshow/64866074.cms |date=6 July 2018}} JioPhone 2, F300B, F310B, JioPhone Lite, F320B, Prima 4G
- HMD Global's Nokia 8110 4G, 2720 Flip, 800 Tough, 6300 4G, 8000 4G, Nokia 2760 Flip,{{cite press release |title=The return of the Nokia 8110 - 'the banana phone' |publisher=KaiOS Technologies |url=https://www.kaiostech.com/return-nokia-8110-banana-phone/ |date=7 June 2018}}{{cite web |title=The Nokia 8110 is back |location=South Africa |url= https://mybroadband.co.za/news/smartphones/249923-the-nokia-8110-is-back.html |publisher=MyBroadband}}{{cite press release |last=Leung |first=Eletta |title=Introducing the Nokia 2720 Flip and 800 Tough, powered by KaiOS |publisher=KaiOS Technologies |url= https://www.kaiostech.com/introducing-the-nokia-2720-flip-and-800-tough-powered-by-kaios/ |date=5 September 2019}} 2780 Flip, and HMD's Barbie™ Phone (U.S. version).The international version of HMD's Barbie™ Phone runs Series 30+ (based on Mocor RTOS) instead of KaiOS, without internet features.
- Energizer Energy E220, E220S, E241, E241S, E242S and Hardcase H241, H242, H280S, E282SC
- Doro 7050, 7060{{cite news |title=Doro's 7050 is the next great simple phone |publisher=PC Magazine UK |url= http://uk.pcmag.com/alcatel-go-flip/93546/news/doros-7050-is-the-next-great-simple-phone |date=26 February 2018}}
- Cat B35{{cite web |title=CAT B35 rugged feature phone launched with KaiOS, Google apps and 4G |publisher=Gizmochina |date=22 September 2018 |url= https://www.gizmochina.com/2018/09/22/cat-b35-rugged-feature-phone-launched-with-kaios-google-apps-and-4g/ |access-date=22 September 2018}}
- Gigaset GL7{{cite web |title=Discover the Gigaset GL7 flip phone |publisher=Gigaset |date=11 March 2023 |url=https://www.gigaset.com/hq_en/gigaset-gl7/ |access-date=11 March 2023}}{{cite magazine |last=Herget |first=Steffen |title=Radikale Minimalisten |language=German |trans-title=6 Tastenhandys mit KaiOS, S30+ und Android Go ab 70 Euro |magazine=C't |pages=67–73 |location=Hannover, Germany |publisher=Heise Medien |date=11 March 2023 |url= https://www.heise.de/select/ct/2023/7/2302011511067477889 |access-date=11 March 2023}}
- Maxcom MK241, MK281{{cite web |title=Maxcom at MWCA 2018 |publisher=Maxcom |location=Poland |date=25 September 2018 |url=https://www.maxcom.pl/en/blog/p-maxcom-at-mwca-2018-3phzd3 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220407210800/https://www.maxcom.pl/en/blog/p-maxcom-at-mwca-2018-3phzd3 |archive-date=7 April 2022}}
- WizPhone WP006, launched in Indonesia in partnership with Google and Alfamart.{{cite web |title=Google WizPhone WP006 is a JioPhone competitor, but its launched in Indonesia |publisher=Indian Express |url= https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/mobile-tabs/google-wizphone-wp006-is-a-jiophone-competitor-but-its-launched-in-indonesia-5483391/ |date=7 December 2018}}
- MTN 3G phone (MTN Smart S 3G){{cite web |title=MTN launches R300 smartphone with WhatsApp |publisher=MyBroadband |location=South Africa |date=7 March 2019 |url= https://mybroadband.co.za/news/smartphones/298514-mtn-launches-r300-smartphone-with-whatsapp.html |access-date=7 March 2019}}
- Positivo P70S (Brazil){{cite press release |last=Leung |first=Eletta |title=KaiOS Technologies enters Brazil market through launch of Positivo P70S and Multilaser ZAPP |publisher=KaiOS Technologies |url= https://www.kaiostech.com/kaios-technologies-enters-brazil-market-through-launch-of-positivo-p70s-and-multilaser-zapp/ |date=13 June 2019}}
- Multilaser ZAPP (Brazil)
- Tecno T901{{cite press release |last=Leung |first=Eletta |title=The first TECNO device running KaiOS is here: Meet the T901 |publisher=KaiOS Technologies |url= https://www.kaiostech.com/the_first_tecno_device_running_kaios_is_here_meet_the_t901/ |date=15 August 2019}}
- IKU V400 4G
- I-Plus I4g
- Lava Captain 11 3G
- Jazz Digit 4G (Pakistan)
- Orange Sanza 2, Sanza XL
- Kitochi 4G Smart
- Vodacom Smart Kitochi (Vida), Vodacom Smart Kitochi (Azumi)
- QMobile 4G Plus (Pakistan)
- GeoPhone T15, T19, T19i (Made in India for Bangladesh)
- Sigma mobile X-Style S3500 sKai (Ukraine)
- Ghia KOX1, GK3G, GQWERTY (Mexico)
- myPhone Up Smart, Up Smart LTE (Poland){{Cite web |location=Poland |title=myPhone Up Smart LTE |url= https://www.myphone.pl/en/product/myphone-up-smart-lte/ |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=myPhone}}
- Symphony PD1 4G (Bangladesh)
- BKAV C85{{Cite web |location=Vietnam |title=Điện thoại Bkav C85 |language=Vietnamese |website=Viettel Digital |url= https://viettel-digital.com/san-pham/dien-thoai-bkav-c85 |date=December 26, 2023}} (Vietnam) in partnership with Viettel. This is the only KaiOS device to not feature Wi-Fi support
- Viettel V6504,{{Cite web |author=Tâm Viettel Lắk |title=Viettel V6504 điện thoại cục gạch thế hệ 4G |language=Vietnamese |website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLkvbfutZLs&t=247s |date=September 8, 2021}} V1207{{Cite web |author=Viettel Digital |title=Mở hộp trải nghiệm điện thoại home phone V1207 Viettel |language=Vietnamese |website=Youtube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzIRty8bxY8 |date=July 27, 2021}} (Vietnam). The Viettel V1207, one of the wireless home phones, runs KaiOS.
- itel it9200 (China)
All KaiOS devices have T9 keypads, except the Jiophone 2 and Ghia GQWERTY, which have QWERTY keypads.
Release history
Jailbreak
With the release of the Nokia 8110 4G, an active community (colloquially known as Banana Hackers) around both KaiOS and the phone arose and released the first version of a jailbreak. This gave users the ability to use apps outside KaiStore including old Firefox OS apps on KaiOS devices, as well as flashing their devices with community-created ROMs, such as GerdaOS.{{cite web|date=30 April 2019|title=I spent a week with a $17 KaiOS phone - here's what I learned|url=https://www.AndroidAuthority.com/kaios-phone-review-979286/|access-date=17 March 2020|website=www.AndroidAuthority.com|publisher=Android Authority}}{{cite web|date=|title=GerdaOS: a custom ROM to liberate the heart of Kai|url=https://Gerda.Tech/|access-date=17 March 2020|website=Gerda.Tech|publisher=}}
Some models can also be rooted, giving the user further control over the device.{{cite web | url=https://sites.google.com/view/bananahackers/devices | title=BananaHackers.net - KaiOS DEVICES }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
- {{URL|https://www.kaiostech.com/store|KaiStore}}
{{Mobile operating systems}}{{Linux distributions}}{{Portal bar|Software|Hong Kong}}
Category:ARM operating systems
Category:Embedded Linux distributions