Mozilla is exploring how to simplify communications over the Web by providing people with a global communications system built directly into a browser. Firefox Hello is a new feature that will be available to Firefox Beta users in the following weeks. It enables anyone with a Firefox browser to make free voice and video calls without having to download software, plugins or even create an account. Users can talk with others even if they are not using the same browser, software or hardware.

Firefox Hello overcomes those restrictions of other communications services by using Web Real Time Communication (WebRTC) technology, which is compatible with many modern browsers.

Mozilla is working with Telefonica for the new service. Hello will use the OpenTok real time communications platform from TokBox, a Telefónica company.