Sailfish OS is now compatible with the Android ecosystem, in terms of application and hardware compatibility, Jolla has announced.
On one hand this means that Android apps can run directly on Sailfish OS without any modifications; and on the other – Sailfish OS-based devices can use common Android hardware, and this includes both smartphones and tablets.
This, however, doesn’t mean future Jolla phone owners will lose their gesture-based controls; they’ll still be working whether you run an Android or a native Sailfish OS app.
To emphasize this capability, Jolla will work with leading global app stores (not just Google Play Store), making sure users can seamlessly download Android apps just as they would do on any Android device.
In other words, all of the popular Android apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, Spotify and many others will work on the Jolla phone from the day one. And according to Jolla, this new level of compatibility with the Android eco-system presents an opportunity for Sailfish, especially in China.
Sounds promising and could help the nascent platform compete in today’s landscape. Plus, if they manage to struck a deal with some Chinese carrier, they’re *really* onto something…