The story of convergence

On January 2, 2013, as most of us dove back into reality after the holidays, my team and I were hard at work. After a lot of planning and preparation, we announced Ubuntu for phones, a beautiful, integrated phone experience that looks and feels like Ubuntu but with a glimpse of the future [1].

Back in 2004 when we started this story, Ubuntu was explicitly focused on the Desktop. Our goal back then was to create the most desirable and powerful Linux desktop, and quickly Ubuntu became the choice of most Linux users. We then focused on the server, and then the cloud, and Ubuntu started developing a reputation for making technology simple whether on the client or the server.

It wasn't until 2010 that we really started thinking about true convergence: delivering a single ubiquitous operating system that runs across any form factor you might care about. Back then when we explored this vision, our dream was about Ubuntu on phones, tablets, TVs, and of course our familiar desktop and server platforms. Of course, dreams are simple; unfortunately, making dreams become reality can involve a lot of work and some gritted teeth.

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