UK-based Canonical has sought to raise funds for the development of its Ubuntu operating system (OS) powered smartphone, through the crowdfunding website, Indiegogo.
The Ubuntu developer requires $32m (£20.8m) of investment in one month for developing and producing about 40,000 units of the new Ubuntu Edge smartphone, which is claimed to offer users a ‘Formula One’ smartphone.
Launched on 22 July 2013, the Indiegogo campaign has already raised about $3.3m and upon achieving targeted funding, the firm hopes to produce and deliver the smartphone by May 2014.
Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth said: "The crowdfunding approach is a new way to prove demand for cutting edge technologies and new classes of device; supporting the Ubuntu Edge is the best way to catalyse the next generation of personal devices from industry."
Said to be a powerful and feature-packed smartphone, the new Edge boasts a 4.5in display, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which is more compared to the devices currently on sale.
Expected to be built by an unnamed Asian manufacturer, the new device would assist Ubuntu in gaining ground in an increasingly crowded smartphone marketplace globally, which is currently led by Google’s Android, Apple’s iOS, Blackberry’s BB10 and Microsoft’s Windows Phone.
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