Canonical reveals the first two companies to make and sell the first Ubuntu-powered smartphones sometime during 2014-- Spanish mobile device maker bq and Chinese vendor Meizu.
“The mobile industry has long been looking for a viable alternative to those that reign today," Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth says. "Ubuntu puts the control back into the hands of our partners and presents an exciting platform for consumers, delivering an experience which departs from the tired app icon grid of Android and iOS and provides a fluid, content-rich experience for all.”
bq is actually the second biggest unlocked smartphone seller in Spain, with 2013 sales of around 1.5 million devices. Meanwhile Meizu is a fairly big presence in a number of territories, with 600 retail outlets and a presence in China, Hong Kong, Israel, Russia and Ukraine.