BEIJING--Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE Corp. (0763.HK) will launch smartphones with an operating system based on Mozilla's Firefox software in the first quarter of next year, Executive Vice President He Shiyou said Wednesday.

ZTE will also launch phones using Microsoft Corp.'s MSFT, -1.04% Windows 8 operating system at the end of this year or the beginning of next year, Mr. He said at a press briefing.