While there are a handful of different smartphone operating systems to choose from, at the moment the obvious platforms that are dominating are iOS and Android, so users who want to be able to access a large variety of apps will most probably have to end up choosing between the two.
However it seems that Russia is having none of it. According to reports, Russia’s Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov is said to be in talks with Finnish company Jolla about potentially developing an “independent” Russian smartphone operating system that will be based on the Sailfish OS.
Apparently this is based on his concern that there is too much reliance on iOS and Android, and by building a Russian smartphone operating system, it will help to encourage local developers to develop apps and services for it, as well as potentially boost the economy. Let’s not forget that it will also allow Russia to be more in control which could prevent mass surveillance from other countries.
The Communications Minister is hoping that if this is successful, foreign operating systems like iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry will not make up for more than 50% of the Russian mobile space within the next decade or so. Will they be successful? We suppose that remains to be seen.
Filed in . Read more about Jolla and Sailfish OS.