Entry level Ubuntu smartphone

Patrick Beck pbeck at yourse.de
Thu Jan 3 20:22:20 CET 2013


Hi Nikolaus,

thanks for the great work von gta04. Perhaps it would be a good idea to
inform Canonical about your project. gta04 will be a good testing plattform
for them and perhaps they can contribute in different ways to the project.

with kind regards.

Patrick

2013/1/3 Dr. H. Nikolaus Schaller <hns at goldelico.com>

> Hi,
>
> Am 03.01.2013 um 11:22 schrieb Patryk Benderz:
>
> > Hi all, and especially Nikolaus,
> > here http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/phone/operators-and-oems they write:
> > "We have the needs of [...] OEMs and ODMs in mind in bringing Ubuntu to
> > the phone."
>
> Yes, this is great news!
>
> >       Keeping in mind huge Ubuntu's users base, this might be quite a
> chance
> > for GTA04 or it's successor, to have a lot of new users and a way enter
> > mass production. It is also a chance to supply mass market with open
> > hardware devices. The tricky part is to provide the device before others
> > do, and provide it with decent, flat chassis.
>
> Yes, if we really want to aim at the masses, this would be the way. Be
> very fast,
> i.e. the first to get new technology and get it into production before
> anybody
> else does. This gives a first mover advantage and allows to sell at a
> higher
> initial price (skimming strategy).
>
> >       Am I thinking right, Nikolaus?
>
> Unfortunately, this does only work for Apple or Samsung and a handful of
> other OEMs and ODMs. They already have the money (through investors
> and past success) to acquire any new technology exclusively before anybody
> else can get it. And they can pay the best engineers they find on the world
> so that they don't work for anybody else.
>
> By this they can make small, slim and nice looking devices with innovative
> features (display resolution, e-ink, flexible displays, etc.). And Apple
> and
> Samsung are even designing their own ARM chips...
>
> Unfortunately we are running far behind their position :( and the only
> currency to put on the table we have is community spirit, ingenuity and
> volunteers work.
>
> So we have to use a different strategy. Not aim at the masses, because
> we are a too small organization to fulfill their needs (lowest possible
> price). And not focus on any specific software on the device.
>
> Therefore I think we have to do it differently: be open to anyone, but
> focus
> on the needs of our special interest community. Enable our community to
> port this Ubuntu to a GTA04 and new models (which should not be a major
> challenge since we already have Debian and Replicant).
>
> And provide some hardware features the big brands don't provide but are
> interesting to our open source minded community: e.g. open schematics,
> replaceable battery, RS232 interface, extension options, DIY case, etc.
>
> This differentiates our activities from the other "OEMs and ODMs". Of
> course
> we have to sacrifice some big wishes: slim design, really low price, latest
> technology others will show at CES etc.
>
> If anyone is interested to work on porting this Ubunto edition, please
> raise fingers! Support to do that is available on the gta04-owner list.
>
> BR,
> Nikolaus
>
> >
> > P.S. Yura:  when starting new topic, it's better to start new thread
> > instead of replying to some old thread.
> >
> > --
> > Patryk "LeadMan" Benderz
> > Linux Registered User #377521
> > ()  ascii ribbon campaign - against html e-mail
> > /\  www.asciiribbon.org   - against proprietary attachments
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Openmoko community mailing list
> > community at lists.openmoko.org
> > http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Openmoko community mailing list
> community at lists.openmoko.org
> http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openmoko.org/pipermail/community/attachments/20130103/7bfd4835/attachment.htm>


More information about the community mailing list