Yandex and Ubuntu Touch as a possible technological response to Google mobile services

I listened to the Point on Echo of Moscow with the theme: “Yandex vs. Google”, where Yandex representatives participated. It feels like Yandex has clearly overslept the moment, and there is not yet a clear strategy for resolving the crisis. If everything goes further by inertia, then in a couple of years Yandex will give way to the mobile services market to Google and Mail.

At the moment, the tactic of using only proven solutions is not effective, it is necessary to do truly revolutionary things, and these are big risks. In its current organizational configuration, Yandex is not able to take that risk. At the same time, the mobile OS market has stagnated, so Yandex still has a chance to break through the defense. OS itself will obviously not be able to cut OS.

However, you can take advantage of alternative offers on the market. Such ideas have long been in the air.
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Here is one of the scenarios for overcoming the crisis.

Technology

After the trio of mobile OS (Apple, Android, Windows Phone) finally consolidated in the market, the prerequisites for the emergence of alternative mobile platforms appeared. And after a while these platforms appeared.

This is a project of former employees of Nokia Sailfish OS , Tizen from Samsung , Firefox OS and Ubuntu Touch . The most attractive platform is Ubuntu Touch, because of its openness, and the fact that it is a full-fledged Linux.

The system is still raw, and it needs to be finished. However, this circumstance did not prevent Meizu to release a smartphone based on Ubuntu Touch.
For the platform to be successful, you will need to implement support for Android applications, and add the ability to work as a desktop PC . In addition, in order for a smartphone to differ from its fellows, it must have its own “zest”. For example, the ability to upgrade a smartphone by replacing the back cover, which will be built in additional functionality.

Marketing

Regarding marketing, Yandex urgently needs a brilliant marketer who organizes effective advertising and negotiates with retailers. A good result would be if the Yandexphone-based Ubuntu Touch gets 5-10% of the Russian market in a year.

As practice shows, our people strongly believe television. Therefore, it is advisable to brainwash television advertising about the advantages of Yandexphone, and they certainly will.

So the advantages of Yandexphone.

For users:

1. Domestic producer however :)
2. The ability to use Yandexphone as a desktop mini-PC , only you need to connect a monitor, keyboard and mouse.
3. Support Android applications, you can not break away from your favorite programs.
4. Since the phone will be sold at cost, users will get more productive hardware for less money. The recommended price of Yandexphone is 6-10 thousand rubles. It should be a high-quality smartphone.
4. The ability to upgrade the smartphone by replacing the back cover, which will be built in additional functionality, such as an additional battery, the best camera, an additional screen, etc.

For organizations and government agencies:

1. Import substitution, however
2. Open source software with all the consequences, no need to pay for licenses, you can freely edit the code, independence from the software vendor, it is easy to check for undocumented features.
3. The ability to create a server, desktop, mobile IT segment of an enterprise infrastructure based on a single Ubuntu Linux OS with Yandex inside.

In conclusion, I would like to note that if Yandex does not change the structure of project management towards creating start-up groups with minimal bureaucracy, as Mail.Ru did in due time. If Yandex does not have the desire to overcome competitors at the expense of technology, and not the petitions in the FAS. That Yandex will quickly turn into an old spill Mail.ru. Most likely it will be so, but I'm an optimist by nature, besides, I need someone to finish my favorite Ubuntu Touch.