webOS solved this by enabling apps to also ship Node.js code that would be able to run as background services.

https://developer.palm.com/content/api/dev-guide/js-services...

Given that Mozilla already made their JS engine emulate Node.js (http://blog.zpao.com/post/4620873765/about-that-hybrid-v8mon...), it might not be so far-fetched to think that something similar could be done with B2G.