Skip to main content

You’ll soon be able to run Jolla’s Sailfish OS on Sony’s Xperia devices

Mobile operating systems other than Android and iOS exist — they may not have much of a market share, but they certainly are doing whatever they can to stay afloat. Jolla’s Sailfish OS is one such system. The Finnish company, which once filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and then canceled it, is finally expected to make a profit this year.

Jolla operates Sailfish OS, an “independent” mobile OS that’s often marketed as an alternative to Android. Sony’s Open Devices Program is now bringing the Xperia X into the lineup of Sailfish OS smartphones. The Xperia X is a device the company launched last year, and it’s available for purchase running Android. Eventually when the software is finalized, you’ll be able to purchase not just the Xperia X but a range of Xperia devices with Sailfish OS, rather than Android.

This offering is expected to initially be released to Jolla’s customers and community members by the end of the second quarter of this year, likely toward the end of June.

Jolla has also forged partnerships with a Chinese consortium and Russia — two countries that have had weak relationships with Google.

Jolla has now unveiled a new smartphone for the Russian enterprise market, the Inoi, and it’s a device that’s certified by Russian authorities. It has a heavy emphasis on security, and it’s completely “Google=free.” Most of Jolla’s devices can access a third-party app store to download Android apps, but Russia doesn’t want anything Google-related, if possible.

The phone was made by Open Mobile Platform, a Russian venture that aims to put these Sailfish-powered handsets in state-run corporations and government agencies.

The China consortium similarly has granted Jolla the opportunity to build a Sailfish OS-based independent operating system for the country. This OS wouldn’t just be aimed at smartphones, but would extend to TVs, the IoT industry, smartwatches, and the automotive industry.

Editors' Recommendations

Julian Chokkattu
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…
How to view Instagram without an account
An iPhone 15 Pro Max showing Instagram via a web browser.

Instagram is one of the largest social media platforms on the planet. Whether you want to share a family photo, what you had for lunch at your favorite cafe, or a silly video of your cat, Instagram is the place to do it.

Read more
Something odd is happening with Samsung’s two new budget phones
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55.

The Samsung Galaxy A35 (left) and Galaxy A55 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy A55 for almost two weeks and have now swapped my SIM card over to the Samsung Galaxy A35. These are the latest entries in Samsung's budget-minded Galaxy-A series. In all honestly, I can barely tell the difference between them.

Read more
Learn 14 languages: Get $449 off a lifetime subscription to Babbel
A person using the Babbel app on their smartphone.

Learning a new language no longer requires you to make time for formal classes because there are now several language learning apps that you can tap. One of them is Babbel, and you can currently get a lifetime subscription to the online learning platform for only $150 from StackSocial. That's $449 off its original price of $599, but we don't know how much time is remaining before the offer expires. If you want to take advantage of the 74% discount, it's highly recommended that you complete the transaction immediately.

Why you should buy the Babbel lifetime subscription
A lifetime subscription to Babbel not only unlocks the possibility of learning one or two new languages, as the platform encompasses a total of 14 languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Dutch, Polish, Indonesia, Norwegian, Danish, and Russian. You'll be learning your new language of choice with lessons that only take 10 minutes to 15 minutes each to complete, so unlike classes with a rigid schedule, you can learn at your own pace and at any time you're free through Babbel. The lessons cover real-life topics, and they use speech recognition technology to help you master pronunciation. You'll then test yourself through personalized review sessions that will help make sure that you retain all the information that's being taught to you.

Read more