Did Jolla ever even _try_ to get a big player to license Sailfish for high-end hardware? [not relevant]
asked 2016-10-06 23:26:18 +0200
Glad to see that Sailfish OS is alive!
But I would want our favourite OS officially supported on a high-end piece of hardware. Something like a Huawei P9, Sony Xperia, etc.
Most importantly, I need a phone that works everywhere, not limited to some region. For me this means: Europe, USA and South America. At least.
Frankly, I have the impression that Jolla's management almost compulsively avoids the western market and is betting their future solely on the BRICs countries (without Brazil, unfortunately) and Africa. While there is nothing wrong with being present in these markets (and the deal with Intex is highly appreciated!) I still think that establishing a new brand is better done from the high-end than from the low-end. Apple created the smartphone market with the iPhone, Samsung is the Android leader because they build the best hardware (not only the cheapest one). Even Canonical got it right when they envisioned the Ubuntu Edge.
The question to you out there is: Does anybody have insight into Jolla's business strategy? Does Jolla even try to license Sailfish OS to major players (Sony, LG, Huawei, Xiaomi, HTC, Asus, Samsung, Nokia, etc)?
If Jolla has tried: What answers did they get?
If Jolla does not even want to try: What is the reason? Commies at heart, no deal with capitalists? Investors exclusively Russian? Deep-seated emotional fear of rejection?
Looking at Google's Pixel phones it seems that Google wants to become the next Apple and does not care too much about their Android partners. So I would imagine that now is an excellent time to offer an alternative to the big manufacturers.
What do you think: Would you not prefer an 800.- US$ Sailfish device that works in every country and has all the great HW features of a high-end smartphone over a 200.- US$ device with mediocre specs? Do you think there would be a market for a high-end Sailfish device? Would you buy one? I know I would :-)
More devices running Sailfish OS would indeed be nice. ...regardless of price.
vattuvarg ( 2016-10-06 23:42:54 +0200 )editThis is a blog post, you won't get any kind of official answer to it.
To bounce the question back, though, what do you think? Do you really believe any 'big player' is even remotely interested in bringing devices to the market that don't run the apps 99% of people install on their phone? Devices running software that is lightyears ahead in some aspects but, more importantly, lightyears behind in others? Who would they sell those devices to? The 100000 people who might slightly care about this stuff?
nthn ( 2016-10-07 00:00:23 +0200 )editGenerally you are right, but not about the price.
hoschi ( 2016-10-07 01:07:45 +0200 )edit@nthn
You are right, only Jolla employees could answer my question and they most likely won't. The mystical Jolla investors would probably not appreciate public statements like "Sony did not even let us past the receptionist". But such explanations would satisfy my curiosity :-) The suspicion that bugs me is that Jolla does not even try. If they said "of course we tried, but they would not even listen", then I would be fine.
Sailfish devices surely will not sell in the same numbers as Androids. But the Ubuntu Edge crowdfunding campaign showed that there is at least some interest in a high-end (!) smartphone with an alternative operating system. If Samsung has the money to invest in Tizen it could make sense for them to tentatively offer a popular device like the Galaxy 7 with an alternative choice of OS (same HW). And be it only to demonstrate to Google that they are not totally dependent on them. BTW, I find the Android emulator on my Jolla quite good. I was surprised to see how well most Android programs run, including action games. But, yes, for the time being I would recommend a Sailfish phone only to users with a strong technical background.
StaticNoiseLog ( 2016-10-07 01:10:55 +0200 )editThe sad truth is that Jolla has to make a phone themselves. And it should be N9 level awesome (and then some). Their partners clearly don't understand the gesture nation of SFOS and not a single one of them tried to make a desirable product (from a HW/Features POV).
ApB ( 2016-10-07 01:38:29 +0200 )edit