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 Channel Futures

Open Source


Will Google Android Overshadow Ubuntu for Mobile Internet Devices?

  • Written by Joe Panettieri 1
  • September 24, 2008

I applaud Canonical for pushing Ubuntu beyond the desktop — up onto servers, and down onto mobile devices. But I’m starting to wonder:  Can Ubuntu really gain traction on Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs)?  Or put more bluntly: Does the world really need another mobile device operating system?

We’ve already got Apple Mac OS X running on the iPhone; Microsoft Windows Mobile for smart phones; Google Android on the new G1 phone; and a range of Linuxes running around on mobile handhelds.

Now, along comes Ubuntu for mobile Internet devices (MIDs). Back in July 2008, Works With U reported that Ubuntu for MID:

is designed for computers that are close to smart phones in design. MID devices are expected to have touch screens — similar to the iPhone — and may also have similar characteristics to forthcoming Google Android devices. In some cases, MIDs may be free devices that consumers receive as part of a wireless Internet service plan.

Much of the information was based on a meeting I had with Canonical Marketing Manager Gerry Carr at OSCON (Open Source Conference) in Portland, Oregon.

Fast forward to the present day, and Google Android is grabbing the mobile headlines while Apple’s 3G iPhone remains a hot seller. Canonical is still committed to Ubuntu MIDs — and  Works With U wants to give them a try — but it’s clear Canonical has a far bigger mobile hit on its hands.

As Carr predicted to Works With U back in July, Netbooks (another word for sub-notebooks) with Ubuntu preinstalled are starting to flood the market. From Dell’s Mini 9 to Toshiba’s NB100, Clearly, Canonical has a hit on its hands in the mobile market.

But so far the hit is Ubuntu Netbook Remix, rather than Ubuntu for Mobile Internet Devices.

WorksWithU is updated multiple times per week. Don’t miss a single post. Sign up for our RSS and Twitter feeds (available now) and newsletter (launching January 2009).

Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Mobility Open Source

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4 comments

  1. Avatar Vadim P. September 25, 2008 @ 10:40 am
    Reply

    I thought MID’s would be bigger than phones… like the Q1 that’s already out.

    Anyway, still waiting on mine, iPhone and Android stuff is too small for me so far. Don’t want a gimped laptop either.

  2. Avatar Zac September 25, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
    Reply

    I didn’t know about the Toshiba NB100 will have Ubuntu, that good news. I wonder if it will be available in Australia because Dell is dragging its feet here.

    MID’s have its uses but I wonder if it will be a significant seller. People really don’t want to cary around too much gadgets. That being said, I would choose Ubuntu MID over Android.

  3. Avatar Carlos September 25, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
    Reply

    Sounds about right, sticking to netbooks and desktops/laptops. Plus its more likely a netbook would be given away (or sold alot cheaper w/ a contract) with a wireless internet plan.

    Ubuntu Server is also nice with an install of eBox, Untangled, Zarafa or any other set of open source tools/servers! I think they should focus more on these.

    Part of their MID thing is car PCs that they are working on with Intel. If they stick with this it should be fine, but just a mobile internet device thats similiar to a cellphone with out the calling features doesn’t sound like it would sell anyway. If you want that just get a cellphone, the point that a cellphone can combine all these into one makes selling a handheld internet device even harder. Would definitely like to see Ubuntu on my desktop, car amp; tv with an inhouse Ubuntu server to sync and work with all these, the cellphone would be killer but they are behind on this. They could think about giving a hand to OpenMoko instead of having yet another option, its based on Debian and combining their marking and sending over some programmers could prove more beneficial and leave the hardware to FIC.

  4. Avatar Joe Panettieri September 25, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
    Reply

    @Vadim: You are correct that MIDs will be slightly different than smart phones. MIDs will be positioned as mobile WiFi devices. And yes, I want to test a MID. But for people who don’t want multiple devices, I suspect MIDs will wind up competing with this new generation of smart phones (Google Android, iPhone, etc.).

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