At CES earlier this year, Canonical announced Ubuntu for smartphones and promised that sometime this year we could see smartphones running on the new OS. Now the company is close to launching its first smartphone called Ubuntu Edge. Well sort of.
To build the first batch of Ubuntu Edge phones, Canonical announced a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo in the hopes of raising about $32 million in 30 days. This funding will be used to manufacture a limited batch of 40,000 devices. At the time of writing, the campaign has already raised about $3.2 million in the first 24 hours.
From what is known of the device, the Ubuntu Edge is likely to sport a 4.5-inch HD (1280×720 pixels) display and will be powered by a multi-core processor paired with 4GB of RAM. It is said to feature 128GB of internal storage, 8-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel camera at the front and stereo speakers with HD audio and dual-mic recording.To build the first batch of Ubuntu Edge phones, Canonical announced a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo in the hopes of raising about $32 million in 30 days. This funding will be used to manufacture a limited batch of 40,000 devices. At the time of writing, the campaign has already raised about $3.2 million in the first 24 hours.
On the software front, Ubuntu Edge will support dual-boot with Ubuntu phone OS and Android, and will also transform into a PC when docked with a monitor with full Ubuntu desktop. The device will also include connectivity features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE, NFC and GPS. The site though mentions that the above mentioned features are subject to change.
“Ubuntu Edge is the ultimate convergence device – challenging established norms for PCs and smartphones,” Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Ubuntu, said in a press note. “The crowdfunding approach is a new way to prove demand for cutting edge technologies and new classes of devices, supporting the Ubuntu Edge is the best way to catalyze the next generation of personal devices from the industry.”
“Ubuntu Edge is the ultimate convergence device – challenging established norms for PCs and smartphones,” Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Ubuntu, said in a press note. “The crowdfunding approach is a new way to prove demand for cutting edge technologies and new classes of devices, supporting the Ubuntu Edge is the best way to catalyze the next generation of personal devices from the industry.”
