Canonical CEO Says to Expect First Ubuntu Phone Early Next Year

Those disappointed with Canonical's failure to garner enough funding for the Ubuntu Edge may receive some solace early next year. According to CEO Jane Silber, the company still has plans to bring an Ubuntu phone to market in 2014, telling CNET there's still a bright future for the convergence of Android and Linux. However, Silber says the first round of Ubuntu phones won't get a "full converged plug-into-your-monitor device."

Canonical's IndieGoGo experiment fell $19 million short of its lofty $32 million goal—every person who contributed will get a refund—but that isn't deterring the company from bringing the experience of convergence to market. "I think convergence is the future," Silber said. "It may take many forms." If all goes according to plan, users will be able to seamlessly swap between using Android for mobile alongside a desktop-enabled Linux.

Silber believes Canonical is in a position to change the market despite falling short of its funding goal. The company shattered Pebble's record-breaking crowd-funding sum by almost $3 million, so interest is obviously there. And it's this interest that Silber says will boost Canonical into the spotlight. With Apple and Samsung on a seemingly straight and narrow path, Silber thinks both behemoths "are no loner capable of groundbreaking innovation" because of market risks.

However, Apple has been working toward a more unified desktop and mobile experience, while a company like Microsoft is going all out with Windows 8. So while Canonical believes the future of mobile is convergence, the company will need to get a device to market first to show people why something such as the Ubuntu Edge was worth it in the first place.