Ubuntu's official launch in China
Mark Shuttleworth, founder of the Ubuntu project, was in Beijing last week for Ubuntu's official China launch. The event was overwhelmingly successful. However, the reason for the success is questionable. Was it because Ubuntu, one of the top distros in the world, has really caught on in China, or was it simply because of its greatest benefactor? I hate to draw similarities between Bill Gates and Mark Shuttleworth, but in China the younger generations, especially those just entering into the world of technology, know these names and equate them to one thing: success. Having made this point, I wonder if the filled-to-capacity auditorium last week was for Ubuntu, or just to be in the presence of success and wealth. I have made this point before and I will make it again, very few Chinese technologists are concerned with the type of technology they learn, they want to make sure they learn the one that offers them the greatest chance to succeed.
Above is good news for Ubuntu, but now let's focus our attention to Canonical , the commercial arm of Ubuntu and the reason why Mark is in China. Amy Jiang, Canonical's official yet not legally recognized representative in China, has done an admirable job for Mark in China. For those interested in getting first hand info on Ubuntu and Canonical in China, I highly recommend a visit to her blog.
As for Canonical's future China plans, the official response is "the founder of Ubuntu has no intention to enter China". Mark has stated that "We can't succeed by ourselves alone, we are seeking partnership with local Linux OS rather than competition". That's good news, as Canonical, and specifically Mark, has a lot to offer local Linux companies, especially those that may be targeting foreign markets. In his own words, this visit was "to introduce Ubuntu's OEM channel program to China's PC manufactures, especially the ones with computer exporting business."
It would appear Canonical is taking its time with China, they are still in the exploration period and based on what I know of Amy’s work, they are hungry to make friends and find areas of cooperation. As for the future of Canonical in China, it is uncertain, but what we do know is that before Canonical comes to China it needs to prove itself sustainable and the target Mark has set for that is within the next five years. What if Canonical doesn't succeed, what will Ubuntu's fate be? Rest assured, funds have been set aside to guarantee Ubuntu will be supported for another 10 years, so don't be afraid to adopt it as an enterprise solution.