Ubuntu Linux emerges for digital inclusion, mobile devices
Opinion: Ubuntu, a fast-growing version of Linux, could emerge as a prime platform for mobile devices and digital inclusion over the next year. Here’s why. Opinion: Ubuntu, a fast-growing version of Linux, could emerge as a key platform for mobile devices and digital inclusion over the next year. Here’s why.
Ubuntu Linux now has roughly 6 million to 12 million users, according to Mark Shuttleworth, CEO of Canonical — the company behind Ubuntu Linux. Shuttleworth delivered the estimate during Ubuntu LIVE, a conference that kicked off July 22 in Portland, Oregon.
Many of those early adopters are students, university leaders and digital inclusion community activists — dozens of whom are here at the conference.
If you start connecting the dots, it’s easy to see three reasons why Ubuntu could play a role in some public broadband deployments.
First: Community Leaders Are True Believers
Some digital inclusion leaders are striving to offer Ubuntu-based PCs to low-income families and community organizations that can’t otherwise afford PCs. For instance, ZaReason of Berkeley, California, assists a non-profit organization to build 1,000 Ubuntu PCs per year for low-income applicants. ZaReason CEO Cathy Malmrose described her strategy in an interview with All About Ubuntu, another site I contribute to.
Why is Ubuntu catching on with non-profit organizations? That’s simple: It’s free, reliable and simple, and comes with OpenOffice — a free software suite that is compatible with the Microsoft Office file format.
(Full disclosure: I purchased a Dell PC with Ubuntu pre-installed in June. So far, my experience has been very good.)
Second: Universities Are True Believers
Ubuntu’s growing popularity on university campuses bodes well for public broadband deployments. San Francisco State University, California State University and several colleges are presenting Ubuntu case studies here at Ubuntu LIVE.
We all know municipalities frequently rely on universities for help with public broadband deployments. It’s a safe bet more and more of those universities will include Ubuntu in those conversations. I’ll try to score some interviews with those university leaders later today.
Third: The Power of Ubuntu In Your Hand
In 2008, you may wind up using Ubuntu even if you don’t realize it. Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, is working with Intel to develop a small, mobile version of the operating system.
An initial “test” release is expected this fall. And mobile devices with Ubuntu are expected to arrive next year. Ironically, Shuttleworth downplayed Ubuntu’s opportunity on smart phones (at least initially), and instead focused on mobile Internet-enabled devices that resemble Nokia’s N800 handheld device.
So there you have it: Three reasons why Ubuntu better be on your radar as you plan your municipal broadband strategy.
I’m not suggesting that Ubuntu is a silver bullet for digital inclusion. But there’s no denying the operating system’s momentum.
I also realize Linux has had its share of challenges in public broadband deployments — but that has mostly involved networking equipment. For instance, early municipal wireless networks that ran Linux-based networking hardware were difficult to manage and scale, according to Boston-area community leaders who spoke at MuniWireless 2007: New England in June.
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