Verizon Joins Ubuntu’s Potential Smartphone Launch Partners

Verizon took the first steps in becoming a potential launch partner for Canonical’s Ubuntu smartphone in the US by becoming a member of the Carrier Advisory Group. The group is comprised of interested telecoms from around the world that stay informed on the technology and progress of the Ubuntu smartphone.

Canonical quoted Verizon Device Technology Director Samir Vaidya as saying, "Verizon Wireless is joining Ubuntu’s Carrier Advisory Group to participate in technology discussions around this new platform, which has the ability to bring new and exciting features to developers and ultimately, customers.”

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awesome

Interesting.
Well it will be interesting to see a smartphone running GNU/Linux instead of Droid/Linux.

Too bad Ubuntu has been all but abandoned by the Linux community.
But then again, that's probably why its popularity has increased so much!

Red Falcon said:

Interesting.
Well it will be interesting to see a smartphone running GNU/Linux instead of Droid/Linux.

Too bad Ubuntu has been all but abandoned by the Linux community.
But then again, that's probably why its popularity has increased so much!

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buntu abandoned? Really? That is too bad, aren't they the most well known "user-friendly" desktop versions?

Cool so on top of the 6 month built in release cycle delay for new software... You'll get the Verizon 8month to a year delay.

dandirk said:

buntu abandoned? Really? That is too bad, aren't they the most well known "user-friendly" desktop versions?

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Yea, but once you gain popularity among the non-techies then you get kicked to the curb by the Linux elitists.

03grandam said:

Yea, but once you gain popularity among the non-techies then you get kicked to the curb by the Linux elitists.

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Pretty much.

dandirk said:

buntu abandoned? Really? That is too bad, aren't they the most well known "user-friendly" desktop versions?

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It's mainly because it is a locked-down POS.
Which, when it comes to Linux, ESPECIALLY a Debian-branch distro, flexibility is everything.

Oh, and light-dm and Gnome3 are garbage.
Plus other GUIs don't work very well with Ubuntu 11.XX-13.XX, being that they break or function poorly.

This isn't just coming from me, there are quite a few others who have had nothing but issues with Ubuntu after 11.XX.
It's not because it is popular that makes it shunned by the Linux community, but mainly because it's too broken, restricted, and aimed at those who are not knowledgeable in Linux.

By Linux, I mean GNU/Linux, not Droid/Linux.

But will it come with the unity lense shopping junk pre-installed to conveniently eat up your data plan?

dandirk said:

buntu abandoned? Really? That is too bad, aren't they the most well known "user-friendly" desktop versions?

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No one in the Linux community for what strong-arming billionaire Shuttleworth has done to all the other distros. Sure Linux has gained 3rd party OEM support...but due to Shuttleworth's influence his whims are forced on everyone else.

"User friendly" as in you can use the Linux without having a fucking clue what you're doing...and when you get in over your head it leads you to the problem...

03grandam said:

Yea, but once you gain popularity among the non-techies then you get kicked to the curb by the Linux elitists.

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The problem...Ubuntu relies on a forum support model. When the "elitists" leave you're left with a bunch of clueless noobs who couldn't find a CLI with a map and a Ouija board.

BryanSTG said:

But will it come with the unity lense shopping junk pre-installed to conveniently eat up your data plan?

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Of course it will. Duh. How many cellphones do NOT ship with carrier bloatware regardless of OS? It will be locked down, and "secure". I'll be very surprised if this smartphone dies a quick and unremarkable death.

Being a carrier phone it will also never get package updates...and they'll intentionally brick apt-get to keep people from screwing with the OS rather than bending over and buying a new phone.