Ubuntu for phones: A Q&A explainer

A: There’s no accounting for taste, but you’re correct. Getting a foothold across the very long chain of design, manufacture, carrier support, retail availability, marketing awareness, and critical reception is nobody’s idea of simple and straightforward.

Q: Bit of a premature announcement, all told.

A: I’d agree. But Ubuntu and its corporate backer, Canonical, play by different rules than the very large makers of hardware. And it’s fun to have a wild card in the race.