Jolla phoneThe Jolla smartphone is
based on software Nokia abandoned
in 2011
A team of ex-Nokia employees has
released the first handset running
on a new smartphone platform.
The Jolla phone - pronounced Yol-la -
is powered by open-source
operating system Sailfish, but can
run most apps designed for Google's
Android platform.
The company has paired with a
major Finnish network, and hopes to
set up a similar deal with a UK
operator.
Industry analysts said Jolla faced a
challenge in taking on a market
dominated by Google and Apple.
Just 450 Jolla phones will be
available at launch on Wednesday
evening, with the majority going to
customers who have pre-ordered
the device.
Co-founder Marc Dillon told the BBC
the company was in the process of
ramping up manufacturing.
He said the phone's ethos was to
provide a more "open" approach to
how people used their mobiles, a
contrast to the relatively closed
systems used on the iPhone and, to a
lesser extent, Android devices.
There's different opportunities for
people to get apps form different
places, different stores," he said.
"We've created a world-class
platform. Users will be getting more
choice."
Dumped OS
The platform - originally called
MeeGo - was developed by Nokia,
but dumped in 2011 in favour of the
company adopting the Windows
Phone system.
Nokia released just one handset
running the software, the N9-00.
Antti Saarnio, chairman and co-
founder of Jolla, told the BBC in May
that MeeGo - now called Sailfish -
had not been given enough chance
to succeed.
"Everybody felt so strongly that they
wanted to continue," he said.
Large parts of the Sailfish code were
open-source, which meant anyone
could expand and adapt the
platform, Mr Dillon said.
"We are ramping up our Jolla
community right now.
"There's already a Sailfish website so
that developers can come and
contribute."
David v Goliath
According to CCS Insight, 81% of
smartphones shipped globally from
July to September ran Google's
Android software. Apple's iOS
accounted for 13%.
Smaller players such as Blackberry,
Microsoft and Mozilla made up the
numbers.
Analyst Geoff Blaber, from CCS, said
while it might seem Jolla was taking
on an impossibly large challenge by
trying to muscle in, its strategy could
pay off.
It's easy to characterise this as David
v Goliath," he told the BBC. "But the
fact is if Jolla can maintain a
competitive cost base, there is
already an enthusiast base seeking
this product. It could be successful."
But Mr Blaber added the handset was
a means to an end, and that Jolla's
long-term strategy was to create a
operating system it could licence to
other manufacturers.
"This is the challenge," he said.
"At the moment we have a situation
where Android is utterly dominant.
They've got to prove the software is
competitive and it works."
Jolla may also be buoyed by support
in its home country as a result of
Microsoft's planned buy-out of Nokia.
Jolla co-founder Mr Dillion said he
was getting "stopped everywhere I
go".
"We're not trying to piggy-back, but
we have seen a bump," said Mr
Dillon. "We've had a lot of support in
Finland."
Mr Blaber added: "This is the 'what
might have been' scenario had Nokia
not gone down the Microsoft road
with Windows Phone."

It has the shape and looks of lumia....they should av bring in a new design............
Well don nokia atleast una D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ compete

It has the shape and looks of lumia....they should av bring in a new design.
Well don nokia atleast una D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ compete

Good developement. These comm. giants are really freezing out these open source devices. At least developers can upgrade and work on them. I will advice these guys to partner with creative commons and concentrate on the african and latin american markets.

pls is dis lovely phone available in nigeria now, how much is it. Tanx

Seuntek: pls is dis lovely phone available in nigeria now, how much is it. Tanx

Its not. If u bothered to read d first few paragraphs, u would knw that.