Hello Linux Geeksters. As a reminder, Canonical has been present at the Mobile World Congress 2014 (MWC 2014), where they have been presented the first two Ubuntu Touch-powered phone manufacturers: BQ and Meizu. Also there are rumors that Ubuntu Touch will be officially available on Geeksphone Revolution, the first Firefox OS/Android phone from the market.
Also, Canonical’s Mark Shuttleworth has been interviewed by Mobile World Live TV. You can see the video on this link (sorry, I could not embed the video).
But if you don’t have 10 minutes of spare time, here are the highlights of the interview:
- Canonical decided to pick BQ and Meizu because they have good potential of success, in their markets
- Canonical is in advanced talks with other phone vendors as well, including an important manufacturer that has recently released his own platform (Jolla? OPPO?)
- Despite the fact that Ubuntu Touch is not officially available, the Ubuntu Store is full of apps. Also, Mark also confirms that the most important 50 Android apps will be available for Ubuntu Touch when the first phones get released
- Q3 will most likely bring Ubuntu Touch powered Meizu and BQ phones
- Canonical pushed back the release of Ubuntu Touch, in order to get both the mobile OS available both phone and tablet, as the manufacturers requested
- The developers find it very natural to work and develop on Ubuntu