Ubuntu (Photo : YouTube)
Canonical, along with its original equipment manufacturer BQ, announced that it will release a smartphone that runs on the Ubuntu platform. The company decides to release its Ubuntu-based devices in the international market and not just in Europe.
The first smartphones running on the Ubuntu platform was launched in the European market in February. The second device was released in June which was also limited to European consumers.
The Spanish device manufacturer BQ was responsible for building the hardware that will run the Ubuntu mobile operating system. The first phone called Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition was released for $189 and its slightly bigger variant Aquaris E5 HD Ubuntu Edition fetched a price tag of $220.
Canonical, the company behind the Ubuntu software, claims that the global market is looking for a more open source alternative to mainstream operating software like iOS and Android. Despite the claim, Canonical has yet to publicly release sales data about its mobile software or its smartphone devices, according to Tech Crunch.
Despite going global, Canonical said that due to compatibility issues, some of the operating system's feature will not work all regions. The company posted a statement on its official website saying, "We know (and BQ has acknowledged) that network frequency, and mobile operator, compatibility in some countries, such as the US, will limit some of the handset and OS functionality that European users are presently enjoying."
Many tech analysts pointed that the Ubuntu's mobile operating software and BQ's hardware operate in a frequency that are not compatible with high-speed networks in the United States.
