asked 2015-07-07 15:10:34 +0200
http://jolla.com/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/53_JOLLA_COMPANY_STRUCTURE_JULY2015_FINAL.PDF
This may be being spun positively, but I'm not so sure it bodes well. Views?
(still, at least they've admitted to continued supply issues in relation to the tablet)
answered 2015-07-09 02:29:25 +0200
For everyone not following the "Jolla Pioneer Fans" Facebook group, Antti Saarnio (Jolla CEO) commented on the topic and even made a remark regarding further commitment to TOH concept :D
Thanks guys for caring. You are true fans for it.
Although these are bold moves for a start-up the reasons behind are very logical:
1) HW business can't be justified with Jolla's R&D investment level,
2) To justify investment level, Sailfish OS must scale with licensing partners,
3) Serving licensing business is a huge task for us, focus is needed (imagine you having several big time customers demanding attention),
4) Producing Jolla phones is very different sport and also requires focus (customers are important),
5) Both businesses have very different kind of investors: Sailfish OS: big, expecting scale, Devices: smaller, mostly private. Selling two in one is very difficult.
...Most importantly, what you see here is commitment.
We are very committed to build and conquer with Sailfish OS and we also want Jolla devices to show its full potential (with TOH). Thats why were are brave enough to me bold, Unlike moves ;)
answered 2015-07-07 17:58:01 +0200
For me it seems a positive move. It shows that something is going on behind the scenes. Anyway if Sailfish OS licensing business is not progressing well within the next months then anyway there won't be any stage to stay on in the future.
I am eager to know what devices will come from the spin off.
answered 2015-07-08 12:36:15 +0200
Some elaboration on why this is positive:
new company will be established to continue Jolla’s device business
Jolla said they cease device business, now they continue it, to put it outside of Jolla Oy can have several reasons, one of them is to reduce risk for the main company, another is to have investors separated. If I had a company with a risky department I'd do the same. As they now form their own company, maybe the interest of external was not that interesting but they found investors for a spin-off eventually.
Change of CEO and Tomi leaving, Jolla has shown in the past that they swap leadership positions, either to have the one person best for the next steps be in charge, or even the person with the least to do with the next step be representative at events and do negotiations with the outside world... and then there is other opportunities and people take on new jobs as they see fit.
so stop interpretative gossip, Jolla took a long shot and now they seem to catch and score.
answered 2015-07-09 11:15:30 +0200
We shouldn't be disturbed by this move. It is neither a positive nor a negative sign of Jolla's or SFOS' future. I judge the move neutral as it is common practice to separate businesses of different performance and risk if it is possible. It is merely optimisation in many ways, also in respect of taxes.
Of course, outbound communication generally tends to be biased positively as it should inform, but at the same time prevent negative market reactions - which all of us would suffer from.
answered 2015-07-08 11:59:04 +0200
This is great news, in my opinion.
For those who haven't read the linked press release, the announcements in it states that Jolla plans to reorganize itself into 2 major divisions. One of them will only focus on SOFTWARE and thus continue to develop Sailfish OS & apps. A new company will be formed that will be a HARDWARE company and focus on making devices that run on Sailfish OS.
In their own words, "... the company Jolla Ltd. will concentrate on the development and licensing business of the independent and open mobile operating system Sailfish OS. A new company will be established to continue Jolla’s device business ... We have now decided to continue the Jolla devices business under a new company, focusing on security enhanced devices."
Only thing on that which worries me a bit is the focus on security devices, this might mean that the consumer part is left with the licencing to the SW part of the company and the HW part focuses on B2B marketing. But, well wait and see. I'm anctious to see what the news are from the next week's MWC-
raketti ( 2015-07-08 12:21:40 +0200 )editanswered 2015-07-07 19:57:50 +0200
Reading it again, It appears they are spinning off the company assets but not the team (team needs to focus on Software); but hey, at least we got word from the top about tablet progress :)
answered 2015-07-08 10:30:45 +0200
I don´t know whats to think about this news.. IMO sounds not good. Sounds about trouble between HW / SW team and to priorise the resources.
I hope that we will get original Jolla devices in the future and not "Ling Lang Peng" creap with SailfishOS
Edit:
I mean things like some IPhone clones with cheapest HW and lowest possible specs. I would prefer to buy reference devices instead of low spec devices from "Noname backyard manufactures"
Edit2: Yes the Jolla specs are not the best, but it could be worse. And i want to support Jolla directly by buying genuine devices
Could you define what you mean by '"Ling Lang Peng" creap'? Might "Chinese-made generic crap" cover it whilst also being less offensive?
DavidSquires ( 2015-07-08 10:54:43 +0200 )editThis is what Jolla intended to be - a software company, now that they have made their reference devices it's just logical to devide the company (where already 90% is focused on the OS) in two. And I don't mind who makes the phone (Foxcon / Micromax etc.) as long as it runs SFOS. Have you taken a look at the Jolla Phone specs - not that good. So with licencing they are able to get better HW with an awesome OS - best of the both worlds. But this is just what I think - your results/ideas may vary. :)
raketti ( 2015-07-08 11:13:59 +0200 )editanswered 2015-07-08 12:39:56 +0200
What I would like to see is the possibility of picking up a complete working software build for an existing piece of hardware. I know there are various attempts at this already, but I have not seen one fully working hardware/software device. I I don't know if the announcement makes using the software on other manufacturers existing hardware more or less likely. Some interepret the announcement that Sailfish is already being adapted for the new company, with even the Nokia name being mentioned. I don't know if we will get the full story next week or not. What is the chance of getting a fully working current spec phone ( or even tablet?) running Saifish by the end of the year?
or because its really hard without manufacturer support.
https://wiki.merproject.org/wiki/Adaptations/libhybris, for current status of various device ports
r0kk3rz ( 2015-07-09 11:48:52 +0200 )editAsked: 2015-07-07 15:10:34 +0200
Seen: 3,751 times
Last updated: Jul 09 '15
I find it disturbing, and I dont like it. I see this as a move towards more closed sources. But perhaps Jolla will respond with how they see the future (as in Open Source) for SailfishOS.
Could be postive, yes. But, to repeat, what is the future stand on Jolla, SailfishOS and opensource. Will all sources be open, what about those closed bits (UI) that was said to be opened at some point ?
Also, see: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=1475913#post1475913 were I raise these concerns.
Nieldk ( 2015-07-07 15:14:40 +0200 )editI read: "The hardware guy is leaving after the screen issues. A new company will produce security enhanced phones for the russians, because they fear the NSA. Jolla Ltd. will concentrate on licensing Sailfish OS to other manufacturers because the software part is in good shape and there was demand."
To me, it's a mixed bag. But if I had to pick I'd rather get great Sailfish OS 2.0 for the aging Jolla phone, than buggy software on a new device. So I hope it will turn out fine.
Also, I think it would be easier to grasp if the hardware guys kept Jolla brand and the Sailfish guys named themselves Sailfish Oy or sth.
lispy ( 2015-07-07 15:23:53 +0200 )editI doubt the openness of the sw to be relevant without devices...
tortoisedoc ( 2015-07-07 15:26:11 +0200 )editProbably a good move if they are serious about their licensing business. Depending on how exactly the relationship between the future hardware company and Jolla will be, those who are interested in licensing Sailfish OS may feel more comfortable if Jolla itself won't control the OS and produce hardware.
I don't think it'll have a negative impact on openness. Licensing the OS to 3rd parties has been a goal from day 1, and I don't see any change here.
ossi1967 ( 2015-07-07 15:28:17 +0200 )editI am sure Jolla is creating a new company which only purpose will be manufacturing spare batteries :) irony off
lupastro ( 2015-07-07 15:30:36 +0200 )edit