Canonical Asks for $32 Million For Ubuntu Edge Smartphone Desktop

Even though Canonical has made many ambitious attempts before, the project they announced blows the others out of the water.

Recently, Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, launched an ambitious 30 day funding campaign on Indigogo for $32 million to produce the first Ubuntu smartphone. Named the Ubuntu Edge that will “bridge the gap” between smartphones and PC.

Packed in the crowd-funded phone is a quad core CPU, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, 4.5in 1,280 x 720 HD display, 8MP rear/2MP front facing camera, Wi-Fi N, Bluetooth, LTE, NFC, GPS, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass, barometer, MHL, HD audio speakers, dual mic for recording and active noise cancellation, and will dual boot into Ubuntu’s mobile OS and Android (specs may change during development).

Currently, Canonical is asking for $32 million in funding to produce 40,000 first run handsets. Getting one of these phones will cost an average of $830, but users who are willing to pledge on the first day of funding will only of to shell out $600 instead if the $830.

The only problem is that a lot of people will be needed to pledge a lot of money up front for a phone that is just a concept currently. While there are some who are willing to fork out a lot of money for a smartphone outright for someone that is not even made, it is hard to say if 40,000 people are willing to spend that type of money on a concept phone. Although the funding is on Indigogo, Canonical plans to not press ahead with the money it already raised of the project fails to reach its goals and return all of the money it received (which Indigogo has a setting).