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Jolla's Sailfish OS Now Certified as Russian Government's First 'Android Alternative' (techcrunch.com)

Posted by msmash on from the things-russia-likes dept.

The future for one of the few remaining alternative mobile OS platforms, Jolla's Sailfish OS, looks to be taking clearer shape. Today the Finnish company which develops and maintains the core code, with the aim of licensing it to others, announced Sailfish has achieved domestic certification in Russia for government and corporate use. TechCrunch adds:In recent years the Russian government has made moves to encourage the development of alternatives to the duopoly of US-dominated smartphone platforms, Android and Apple's iOS -- flagging Sailfish as one possibility, along with Tizen. Although Sailfish looks to have won out as the preferred Android alternative for Russia at this point. The government has said it wants to radically reduce its reliance on foreign mobile OSes -- to 50 per cent by 2025 vs the 95 per cent of the market garnered by Android and iOS in 2015. Sailfish's local certification in Russia also follows an announcement earlier this year that a new Russian company, Open Mobile Platform (OMP), had licensed the OS with the intention of developing a custom version of the platform for use in the domestic market. So, in other words, a Russian, strategic 'Android alternative' is currently being built on Sailfish.

55 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. I just want some fucking choices by geek · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Android is shit. Complete and total garbage. You're either stuck with insecure software with it or stuck with Google spyware.

    iOS is at least secure but you're stuck in a walled fucking garden with Apple spying on you instead.

    Just give me something with the apps I want, without the spying and with security updates, please for the love of God.

    1. Re:I just want some fucking choices by OffTheLip · · Score: 1

      "Money for nothin' and your chicks for free". Free shit is rarely (never?) free. Mobile platforms are the credit/debit cards of the current generation.

    2. Re:I just want some fucking choices by pr0t0 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I think the problem is that the spying IS the business model. No one is manufacturing phones, creating mobile operating systems, or providing cellular service simply to sell those things at some dollar amount above cost for profit. They do that too to be sure, but the end game is to track, aggregate, and catalog every thing about you that they can and sell THAT information to advertisers...and maybe the government(?).

      So we get to be the consumer and the product, which works out pretty well for everyone on the other side of the equation; just not us.

      --
      I'm sorry, but your opinion seems to be wrong.
    3. Re:I just want some fucking choices by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You're begging for the wrong thing.

      What you really want is well-documented, open hardware that anyone can program; then you'll automatically get all the choices you want. That's what gave us the PC revolution, and that's what will give us the actual mobile revolution, which has unfortunately not yet occurred.

    4. Re:I just want some fucking choices by geekmux · · Score: 1

      Android is shit. Complete and total garbage. You're either stuck with insecure software with it or stuck with Google spyware.

      iOS is at least secure but you're stuck in a walled fucking garden with Apple spying on you instead.

      Just give me something with the apps I want, without the spying and with security updates, please for the love of God.

      No way this will ever happen.

      It's far too late to even try and dismiss the free model and pay for the privacy you desire today. Your data will still be sold off for profit regardless of what you're promised (fines for doing so are soooo fucking worth it), or your data will be hacked outright.

      Yeah, I get your point. There should be no data to sell or hack, but it's still way too valuable, and the larger the consumer base, the more value it retains. Our global population isn't exactly shrinking, and on top of that, Governments love this shit.

    5. Re:I just want some fucking choices by SubtleGuest · · Score: 1

      The word you are looking for is "off."

    6. Re:I just want some fucking choices by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Yes recall what the US brands did under PRISM:
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    7. Re:I just want some fucking choices by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 1

      You mean to say "Freemium isn't free."

    8. Re:I just want some fucking choices by arglebargle_xiv · · Score: 1

      Sailfish's local certification in Russia also follows an announcement earlier this year that a new Russian company, Open Mobile Platform (OMP), had licensed the OS with the intention of developing a custom version of the platform for use in the domestic market.

      Translation: In Putin Russia, OMP-modified OS watch you!

    9. Re:I just want some fucking choices by guacamole · · Score: 1

      Android is shit. Complete and total garbage.

      I still prefer it to Apple's walled garden, and actually enjoy using my Android devices. Having said that, it's a pretty dangerous situation right now that there is no true independent and open source alternative. It's like the world of Mac OS and Windows from 10 years ago, except without Linux of BSD alternatives.

    10. Re:I just want some fucking choices by wjcofkc · · Score: 1

      BB 10 was and is still awesome. That and you could sideload most otherwise unavailable Android apps. I still swap my sim card over to my classic on a regular basis. There was the whole Canada thing... but hey.

      --
      Brought to you by Carl's Junior.
    11. Re:I just want some fucking choices by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      I one up your lyrical quote: "You don't get something for nothing. You can't have freedom for free."

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  2. Cool by The-Ixian · · Score: 2

    If adoption of the OS comes even close to 50% in Russia, wouldn't that mean that it would be a viable (as in lots of apps) OS for the rest of the world? I like the idea of a 3rd real contender in the market.

    --
    My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    1. Re:Cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You seem to think that other countries, the U.S. in particular, would never do such a thing. You're so high on "freedom and democracy" you have no idea what's real and what's not. Keep shopping, and don't ask any questions.

    2. Re:Cool by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      Shove it up where? I love Russians. They just don't pay for apps.

    3. Re:Cool by stephanruby · · Score: 1

      If adoption of the OS comes even close to 50% in Russia, wouldn't that mean that it would be a viable (as in lots of apps) OS for the rest of the world?

      It would be for countries closely allied to Russia:

      Iran, Lybia, etc.

      I'm not counting China because China already has its own Android custom version.

    4. Re:Cool by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      If adoption of the OS comes even close to 50% in Russia, wouldn't that mean that it would be a viable (as in lots of apps) OS for the rest of the world?

      Not a foggy chance in hell of getting any share at all in Russia, or anywhere else, with the current license issues.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    5. Re:Cool by williamyf · · Score: 3, Informative

      SailFish* (Unlike bada) can run Android APPs in a sort of compatibility mode. It can also be coaxed to load many of Google Play Services (but that breaks Google's EULA). So, most likely, very few people will develop native sailfish, even in Russia.

      If Anything, this creates critical mass for affordable/Quality phones running the OS. Just imagine, say, a MODERN YottaPhone running Sailfish.

      Having said that, carriers have demonstrated that they do not realy care for a Third ecosystem, all they really need is the "Threat" of a third ecosystem to restrain Google a tad.

      * Also BB10 OS, but that is a whole different issue.

      --
      *** Suerte a todos y Feliz dia!
    6. Re: Cool by tidepool · · Score: 1

      *all* countries, yes, you're right!

    7. Re:Cool by r0kk3rz · · Score: 1

      SailFish* (Unlike bada) can run Android APPs in a sort of compatibility mode. It can also be coaxed to load many of Google Play Services (but that breaks Google's EULA). So, most likely, very few people will develop native sailfish, even in Russia.

      If Anything, this creates critical mass for affordable/Quality phones running the OS. Just imagine, say, a MODERN YottaPhone running Sailfish.

      Having said that, carriers have demonstrated that they do not realy care for a Third ecosystem, all they really need is the "Threat" of a third ecosystem to restrain Google a tad.

      * Also BB10 OS, but that is a whole different issue.

      Alien-Dalvik isn't really a 'compatibility mode' its a full Dalvik engine, just like you'd find on Android.

      A Sailfish Yotta phone port was created for the Russian Communications Minister as a trial, but I think Yotta are running into trouble so we may never see a consumer device.

      The best part about all of this, is the pioneering work that Jolla has released open source, is enabling players such as Plasma-Mobile, Ubuntu Touch, Open WebOS, and Asteroid OS to run on Android devices, and potentially gaining a foothold in the market.

  3. In Russia, certification owns you. by geekmux · · Score: 1

    "...Sailfish has achieved domestic certification in Russia for government and corporate use."

    One can only imagine what this would entail with regards to State-sponsored backdoors.

    (Not that the US has much room to talk...)

    1. Re:In Russia, certification owns you. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      At least we'll have a choice on what government is watching us.

    2. Re:In Russia, certification owns you. by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Ain't OMP a Russian company, that will, among other things, localize the OS to Russian requirements? Which would include being compliant w/ Kremlin requirements

    3. Re:In Russia, certification owns you. by sit1963nz · · Score: 1

      Kremlin/NSA the rest of the world can not actually tell the difference any more.

  4. What about the kickstarter? by jbernardo · · Score: 1

    Hopefully with this certification Jolla will have no more excuses to delay repayment of the suckers that backed it's tablet kickstarter.

  5. Finland is not foreign? by ZackSchil · · Score: 1

    Russia wants to get away from foreign mobile operating systems but Sailfish is maintained by a Finnish company. If I were Finland, I'd be a little worried right now!

    1. Re:Finland is not foreign? by unixisc · · Score: 1

      But OMP has licensed Sailfish, and so have the rights to make whatever changes they need to it, right?

    2. Re:Finland is not foreign? by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      Considering Finnish history with Russia anything is possible. I know Finland wasn't too happy with Russia invading Ukraine. Brings back bad memories.

    3. Re:Finland is not foreign? by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Finland was never as intricately a part of Russia the way Ukraine was. Yeah, parts of it were a part of the Russian empire during Tsarist times, but Helsinki was not a cradle of Russian civilization the way Kiev was.

    4. Re:Finland is not foreign? by _merlin · · Score: 1

      The irony is that they only got their independence from Sweden thanks to a Russian invasion. Russia was worried about having German-friendly Sweden so close so they invaded Eastern Sweden and made it into semi-autonomous Finland. The Finns later took advantage of chaos in Russia as an opportunity to tell the Russians to GTFO. They later fought Russia in the Winter War, and tried to get Germany to help push the Russian border back in WWII (it didn't end well for Finland either time, unfortunately). You've gotta admire their self-serving opportunism - they played everyone off for their own benefit.

    5. Re:Finland is not foreign? by pijokela · · Score: 1

      Next year we will celebrate 100 years of independence from the Russian empire. So basically we are still a grand duchy.

    6. Re:Finland is not foreign? by CRCulver · · Score: 2

      The Finns later took advantage of chaos in Russia as an opportunity to tell the Russians to GTFO.

      The independence of Finland from Russia wasn't due to the "Finns telling the Russians to GTFO", it was a decision made by Lenin, partly for pragmatic reasons, partly due to his warm feelings for Finland after he found shelter there when he was still a political outlaw.

    7. Re:Finland is not foreign? by qaz123 · · Score: 1

      Antonov is a legacy of the Soviet Union

    8. Re:Finland is not foreign? by EvilSurfinCow · · Score: 1

      We already are.

    9. Re:Finland is not foreign? by guacamole · · Score: 1

      There is major difference between what Russia thinks of Ukraine, and the rest of its neighbors. There are cultural and historical ties that are extremely strong. Both Russia and Ukraine trace their origins to the medieval state of the Kievan Rus. That's right! The first "Rus" had its capital in Kiev, what is today the capital of Ukraine.

    10. Re:Finland is not foreign? by guacamole · · Score: 1

      Don't worry. Russia's invasion force will be defeated by the Finnish Olympic cross-country skiing team, just like it happened in the winter war.

    11. Re:Finland is not foreign? by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      I imagine Ukraine is still a little upset about the millions that were victims of Stalin's USSR.

  6. Re:Finnish OS with Russian backing.... by amiga3D · · Score: 1

    The last time they invaded it was pretty bloody and expensive for them.

  7. Ah, the "We hate the US" platform? by sethstorm · · Score: 1

    Would be nice if they had a device available in the US that ran it, but they have personal vendettas to settle.

    --
    Twitter supports and protects racists - by smearing their critics with the "Hate Speech" label.
    1. Re:Ah, the "We hate the US" platform? by Eunuchswear · · Score: 1

      Nexus 5.

      --
      Watch this Heartland Institute video
    2. Re:Ah, the "We hate the US" platform? by sethstorm · · Score: 1

      No keyboard.

      --
      Twitter supports and protects racists - by smearing their critics with the "Hate Speech" label.
    3. Re:Ah, the "We hate the US" platform? by Eunuchswear · · Score: 1

      So they hate America because Google made a phone with no keyboard?

      What?

      --
      Watch this Heartland Institute video
    4. Re:Ah, the "We hate the US" platform? by sethstorm · · Score: 1

      No, they hate the US for making a phone that is a deliberate PITA to import.

      --
      Twitter supports and protects racists - by smearing their critics with the "Hate Speech" label.
    5. Re:Ah, the "We hate the US" platform? by Eunuchswear · · Score: 1

      Newsflash -- they don't make phones any more.

      You asked for a Sailfish phone available in the US -- I said Nexus 5, you whined that it had no keyboard.

      Newsflash -- neither did the Jolla one. (Yes, I know about the keyboard TOH, that's not a Jolla product).

      Why was the Jolla one not available in the US? Because the US uses weird frequency bands that the SOC they used didn't support. Blame the FCC, not Jolla.

      You seem to have a very strong sense of entitlement.

      --
      Watch this Heartland Institute video
  8. Re:Finnish OS with Russian backing.... by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 1

    Keep in mind, that though the Finns made enough of a nuisance of themselves to survive, they did lose, and lost a good slice of territory buying peace, including their access to the Arctic Ocean.

  9. Re:replicant? by unixisc · · Score: 1

    And that despite the baseline kernel - libre Linux - existing in this case, unlike w/ HURD

  10. Re:In Other News by unixisc · · Score: 1

    You forgot the biggest of them - ReactOS, which if it matches Windows 7, can eclipse Microsoft, given where the latter is right now

  11. Jolla porting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    You can run Sailfish OS on many different phones and tablets. If you do a little tweaking ...

    Mobile devices supporting installation of Sailfish OS

  12. They already repaid the tablet by Herve5 · · Score: 1

    At least, to those that wanted.
    I for one abandoned the repayment to help them.

    --
    Herve S.
    1. Re:They already repaid the tablet by jbernardo · · Score: 1

      They haven't. They paid half, and promised the other half after one year, depending on their financial situation. But I've learned my lesson, that was the last time I tried helping Jolla.

    2. Re:They already repaid the tablet by Herve5 · · Score: 1

      I certainly was offered a complete refund. Which, as I said, I refused.

      --
      Herve S.
  13. Tizen is buggy by waspleg · · Score: 1

    and the browser is locked down garbage. I have it on my new Samsung TV and am seriously considering buying another Roku to use instead (because while that's also locked down at least it works reliably).

  14. new Jolla not yet with Andro apps IIRC by Herve5 · · Score: 1

    From the Jolla forums, and also the discussions on the Fairphone forums (as the Fairphone 2 does support Jolla Sailfish OS as an alternative to Android), I understand that the machine that allowed android apks to run inside Jolla in their earlier phone hardware is not any more present in the current v2 of the OS.
    Now, maybe they managed to convince the former (independent) developers of the said machine to join again, or maybe this happened very recently.
    Or this announcement will motivate them :-)
    An entrypoit for checking : http://reviewjolla.blogspot.fr...

    --
    Herve S.
    1. Re:new Jolla not yet with Andro apps IIRC by r0kk3rz · · Score: 1

      From the Jolla forums, and also the discussions on the Fairphone forums (as the Fairphone 2 does support Jolla Sailfish OS as an alternative to Android), I understand that the machine that allowed android apks to run inside Jolla in their earlier phone hardware is not any more present in the current v2 of the OS.

      That's not quite correct. Alien-Dalvik is present in SFOS v2 but its not an open component, and as such its only available on bought sailfish devices. Fairphone 2 is a community port, and as doesn't include things which require purchased licences

  15. Re:In Other News by iampiti · · Score: 1

    At the current rate of development I reckon ReactOS will match Windows 7 in around 40 years or so. They're doing great job but they'd need hundreds of devs to make meaningful progress in a few years