14 DAY TRIAL // Canonical has just announced that Aquaris E4.5 and E5 Ubuntu Editions will launch in India through Snapdeal, which is the biggest online marketplace in that country.
Ubuntu for phones is making its way into other regions, and it looks like it's covering most of the big markets. As it stands right now, you can buy Ubuntu-powered phones in China, Europe, India, and the US (with some restrictions). It still isn’t a worldwide release, but it's getting there. We also know that Ubuntu will also land on phones in Russia in the next few months.
The Bq company is the one who is making the Aquaris E4.5 and E5 Ubuntu Editions, which are now sold in all of these regions. Meizu, the second hardware maker that decided to incorporate Ubuntu in their phones, only cover China and Europe, but that it's likely to change in the coming months. Canonical was also in talks with a third manufacturer for a bigger US release, but no information has been made available regarding that deal.
Aquaris E4.5 and E5 Ubuntu Editions for the Indian market
The new phones should arrive in India through Snapdeal by the end of August, but there is no precise date attached. From what we know so far, they are going to have a regular image with some scopes specific to the country.
"The Aquaris E4.5 and Aquaris E5 Ubuntu Edition handsets are set to launch in India through Snapdeal, India’s largest online marketplace. This follows on from two successful Aquaris Ubuntu Edition handsets launched in Europe earlier this year; the Aquaris E4.5 in February, and the Aquaris E5 in June. The devices will be available for purchase from Snapdeal by end of August at a price of Rs 11,999 for the Aquaris E4.5 and Rs 13,499 for the Aquaris E5," reads the announcement from Canonical.
Right now, Ubuntu officially works on Nexus 4, Bq Aquaris E4.5, Bq Aquaris E5 HD, and Meizu MX4. More phones will probably arrive by the end of the year.