There will be a new smartphone OS in 2013, with Ubuntu set to launch in October as an alternative to Android, iOS and Windows Phone 8.
According to Canonical, the developer of the Linux-based Ubuntu OS, devices running on the open source OS will be hitting shops in “two geographically large markets” this October.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth revealed that app developers would be able to access the latest Ubuntu build by the end of February, as long as they have a Samsung Galaxy Nexus device to run it on.
Ubuntu on mobile was revealed last month with a bold new gesture-based interface. Ubuntu’s advantage over the likes of iOS and Android is that any apps made for the mobile OS will also work on the desktop version. The reverse is also true.
Indeed, Ubuntu has been designed to work seamlessly across multiple form factors, allowing you to dock your phone with larger displays and wirelessly connecting to keyboards and other peripherals with the minimum of fuss.
You can even share Windows applications to Ubuntu phones, making them a tempting proposition for business users.
Of course, the biggest problem here is in finding manufacturers willing to build devices for this new and unproven platform. It should be possible for Android manufacturers to make the switch pretty easily, but will they want to?
Is there room for another mobile OS on the market? Are you interested in what Ubuntu has to offer? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.