The 'European' Jolla Phone Is an Anti-Big-Tech Smartphone

"There are Chinese components as well-we are totally open about it-but the key is that as we compile the software ourselves and install it in Finland, we protect the integrity of the product. That means it has no ties to Google-no need for the company to deGoogle the software; meaning there's a greater sense of sovereignty over the software and now the hardware."

"In the startup wizard, the phone will ask if you want to install services like MicroG-open source software that can run Google services on devices that don't have the Google Play Store, making it an easier on-ramp for folks coming from traditional smartphones without a technical background. You don't even need to create a Sailfish OS account to use the Jolla Phone."

"Jolla's effort is hardly the first to push the anti-Big Tech narrative. A wave of other hardware and software companies offer a deGoogled experience, whether that's Murena from France and its e/OS privacy-friendly operating system, or the Canadian GrapheneOS, which just announced a partnership with Motorola."

Sailfish OS distinguishes itself from competitors like GrapheneOS and e/OS by being built on Linux rather than Android Open Source Project, eliminating inherent Google ties and providing greater software sovereignty. While it runs Android apps, the implementation has limitations and lacks the sandboxing security of GrapheneOS. The Jolla Phone startup wizard offers MicroG, open-source software enabling Google services without the Play Store, easing transitions for non-technical users. No Sailfish OS account is required for basic use. Jolla participates in a broader European movement toward reducing US tech reliance, joining companies like Murena, GrapheneOS, and Punkt in offering privacy-focused alternatives. This trend reflects wider European efforts to develop independent technology solutions.

Read at WIRED