Ubuntu's mobile phone dream is not dead

The failure to raise funds for UbuntuEdge is not surprising. In this dual-headed mobile phone market, the space left for future users is getting smaller and smaller. What's more, Canonical has insufficient funds and limited influence. In fact, for Canonical, it is good to get support from 20 thousand million people and raise $7500. This at least proves that some people are willing to pay for niche systems. You know, the price of UbuntuEdge is not low. The price of $830 is ridiculous, even if it is adjusted to $695 later.

The failure to raise funds for Ubuntu Edge is not surprising. In this dual-headed mobile phone market, the space left for future users is getting smaller and smaller. What's more, Canonical has insufficient funds and limited influence. In fact, for Canonical, it is good to get support from 20 thousand million people and raise $7500. This at least proves that some people are willing to pay for niche systems. You know, Ubuntu Edge pricing is not low. The price of $830 is a bit absurd, and even if it is adjusted to $695 later, it is not a small amount.

Perhaps 32 million of the expectations are too high. All payments received will be refunded now. For Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Ubuntu, this is undoubtedly a blow. Since Ubuntu was founded, Mark Shuttleworth has tried to popularize Linux in the public, so he set "Microsoft has a mainstream market" as Bug #1. Of course, it has been proved that it is an impossible task.

However, with the development of smart devices, everything has changed. When Mark Shuttleworth announced the shutdown of Ubuntu's first Bug, he realized that the desktop market is no longer the focus, the mobile market is the next battlefield, and Ubuntu must move towards mobile. As a result, Ubuntu started to build a mobile phone system and launched Ubuntu for Android. Now, we want to develop our own devices through crowdfunding.

In this battlefield, Ubuntu won't win much. In just a few years, the mobile market has been divided by large companies. In this case, Ubuntu Edge may prove the existence of niche markets. However, this market is too small to support Ubuntu's dream. In fact, in this crowd funding, Shuttleworth has always wanted support from hardware vendors or other companies in the industry, but this rescue star has not yet appeared.

Although the Ubuntu Edge project failed, Mark Shuttleworth did not give up his dream. In an interview with The Guardian, he still thinks Ubuntu Mobile is promising.

He said that manufacturers are open to systems other than Android, and users do not have much emotional investment in Android. Unlike the PC market, the mobile market is more variable. Ubuntu Edge is like a concept car. They are also considering producing cars for the masses. Although he is happy to see that Edge is successful, most users should not access Ubuntu Mobile through Edge.

What are the unique sales points of Ubuntu Mobile? It provides excellent mobile phone experience and desktop and tablet experience. He insisted that the key concept of Ubuntu Edge, that is, the idea that mobile phones can also be used as desktop systems, will be gradually accepted. When people go out to work, they want to connect their cell phones to a large screen, and then attach them with a keyboard to improve their work efficiency.

Shuttleworth indicates that he will not retreat. He said that it was a challenge for carriers and hardware vendors to accept Ubuntu Mobile, but he was not afraid of it.

Related reading:

Ubuntu Edge mobile fundraising project failure too large gap from the target http://www.linuxidc.com/Linux/2013-08/89229.htm

Ubuntu Edge Mobile Phone graphic impression all metal cool black http://www.linuxidc.com/Linux/2013-08/88810.htm

Canonical seeks to raise $32 million to make a smartphone Ubuntu Edge http://www.linuxidc.com/Linux/2013-07/87760.htm

Canonical CEO Jane Silber talked about Ubuntu Edge http://www.linuxidc.com/Linux/2013-07/87898.htm in an interview with CNBC

Canonical added a new $50 specification http://www.linuxidc.com/Linux/2013-07/88128.htm In the Ubuntu Edge funding project

For more information about Ubuntu, see Ubuntu special page http://www.linuxidc.com/topicnews.aspx? Tid = 2