Ex-Nokia Employees Launch Smartphone Company, Jolla
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.”
The 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.”
Credit: BBC
