Ubuntu powered Meizu smartphones could arrive in early 2015

Meizu, a Chinese consumer electronics firm, and Canonical, the company behind the Ubuntu Linux operating system, have just announced a strategic partnership. The arrangement states a joint set of goals to build and promote a new version of Meizu’s Flyme OS, which will be based on Ubuntu Touch.

Although the exact details regarding hardware remain absent, Meizu has suggested that its first smartphones powered by the new operating system could arrive in both Chinese and European markets come the first quarter of 2015. Its flagship MX4 smartphone could possibly receive an update and a prototype of the software was spotted running on the MX3’s hardware at this year’s MWC, suggesting that the older flagship could also be in line for an update.

Ubuntu Touch uses the same core technologies as the desktop OS, so apps that are designed for Ubuntu Desktop will also run on Ubuntu Touch and vice versa. It’s not yet clear how closely the new software will resemble Meizu’s existing set-up. The company is currently working with AliBaba and using its cloud services, so it’s possible that the two will attempt to merge software, rather than adopt a direct Ubuntu port.

It has been a long time since we’ve heard anything about Ubuntu Touch, but the idea of a cross-compatible desktop and smartphone operating system based on Linux still seems quite appealing.

What do you make of Ubuntu Touch, will Android have a competitor on its hands come next year?