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EnglishWhat Is Sailfish OS and Who Develops It?
Updated
Sailfish OS is a Linux-based mobile operating system developed by the Finnish company Jolla, positioned as a privacy-respecting European alternative to the dominant mobile operating systems. It has been on the market since 2013, runs on smartphones and tablets, and can also be adapted to embedded devices and other use cases. It is aimed at both individual users and organizations—particularly corporate and governmental deployments—that want a locally licensable, security-focused mobile platform.
Who makes Sailfish OS?
Sailfish OS is managed and developed by Jolla, a Finnish company. The platform is described as open, with an active open source contribution model developed together with customers and the developer community. A Sailfish OS forum supports that community, and Jolla's developer offering has expanded with new tools and capabilities.
What makes it different
The site frames Sailfish OS around three distinguishing points:
- European alternative: It is presented as a European option to the dominating mobile operating systems.
- Exclusive licensing model: According to Jolla, it is the only mobile OS offering an exclusive licensing model for local implementations—relevant if you need a platform tailored to a specific region or organization.
- Privacy and security focus: Security features are described as developed specifically for corporate and governmental environments.
Security features listed by Jolla
| Feature | What the site says |
|---|---|
| User data | Fully encrypted |
| Apps | Protected by Firejail sandboxing |
| Connectivity | Behind a firewall, with built-in VPN support |
| Backups | Automatic backups secure your data |
| Core OS services | Sandboxed using systemd |
| Device management | Full-scale MDM capability at the OS level |
What it runs and where it runs
Sailfish OS is optimized for smartphones and tablets, and Jolla says it is easily adaptable to "all kinds of embedded devices and use cases." Through operating system enablers, it can be adapted to support different ecosystem projects, whether private corporate solutions or public sector governmental deployments.
It also runs Android apps through Jolla's dedicated AppSupport solution—useful if you depend on Android applications but want a different underlying OS.
Who is it for?
Based on the site's positioning, Sailfish OS suits two broad groups:
- Organizations needing a secure, manageable mobile platform—corporate or governmental—where encryption, sandboxing, VPN connectivity, and MDM matter, and where a local licensing arrangement is desirable.
- Individual users who want a privacy-focused, Linux-based alternative to mainstream mobile OSes and are willing to use Android apps via AppSupport.
The site invites visitors to "try and buy" and directs business and partnership inquiries to [email protected]. Specific pricing, licensing terms, and supported device lists are not detailed on the page, so those should be confirmed directly with Jolla before committing.
User experience and design
Jolla describes the design principles as a seamless user experience combined with "unique and clean Scandinavian design," with apps treated as a natural part of the mobile UX. The site also lists Features, Hardware, and User Interface sections for deeper detail on each area.