COSCUP 2024

Ubuntu Touch: freedom of choices in mobile OS space
2024-08-04, 11:10–11:40 (Asia/Taipei), TR411

Currently, the mobile operating system is occupied by Apple-Google duopoly, with their iOS and Android (respectively) occupying over 99% of the worldwide mobile OS market share [1]. However, it doesn’t have to be that way.

This talk will talk about Ubuntu Touch (https://ubuntu-touch.io), an alternative operating system for smartphones. It’s not yet another Android fork; rather, Ubuntu Touch is based on Ubuntu Linux and strives to give a truly different choice to freedom- and privacy-conscious users.

This talk will give you the overview of what Ubuntu Touch is, the history of it, and how it’s built, as well as the landscape of Linux-based mobile operating systems in general.

[1] as of February2024. Information comes from Statcounter.


Ubuntu Touch was started by Canonical Ltd. (the creator of Ubuntu itself) but is now a community project developed by UBports community and governed by the UBports Foundation. Nowadays, UBports community is a global and diverse community with members around the world.

Ubuntu Touch is one of many Linux-based mobile OSes, such as Sailfish OS, postmarketOS and Mobian. Together, we increase the freedom of choices for everyone wanting to break away from Apple-Google duopoly. I would like this talk to raise some awareness around Linux-based mobile OSes as a whole, and especially around Ubuntu Touch.

See also: Slides

Ratchanan Srirattanamet is an open source developer, focusing on system development. He has been involved in the development of Ubuntu Touch since 2016, and is now one of the maintainer of Ubuntu Touch in UBports community. He is also interested in web development, system administration, and software licensing.