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What if your web browser were also your phone? That's a future being imagined by Mozilla, Ericsson and AT&T.
Mozilla has combined Firefox's WebRTC support with Ericsson's Web Communication Gateway and AT&T's API Platform to put together a working demo of calls – both voice and video – and text messages all made from within Firefox.
Mozilla's "WebPhone" is one part Skype, one part Apple's Messages and all parts web.
The demo builds on previous Mozilla efforts like the recent WebRTC video calling demo with Google, as well as the Firefox Social API demo Mozilla showed off last year (the Social API provides the glue that brings your mobile contact info into Firefox in the video above).
Aside from the cool factor, web-based calling has a potentially huge benefit for users – no more need for your phone. Mozilla's WebPhone concept would make it possible to call from any device and the person you're calling would still see your info.
WebPhone also makes it easy to receive calls and messages anywhere. Anyone who's ever used Apple's Message app knows that it's nice to get messages on the desktop, eliminating the need to track down your phone when you're already in front of a screen. WebPhone would make it possible to not only get messages on whichever device you're using, but take calls as well.
Indeed what's most surprising about Mozilla's WebPhone demo is that AT&T and Ericsson are involved since more than anything they're participating in a vision of the future where they are little more than pipes for sending data.
If you happen to be in Barcelona Spain for the ongoing Mobile World Congress event you can check out a live demo of WebPhone at the Mozilla booth. For now the rest of us will have to settle for the demo video above.
