Canonical has added three new pricing tiers to its Ubuntu Edge crowdfunding campaign, which already surpassed 5 million (£3.25m, AU$5.44m) in just a few days.
If that sounds like a lot, it's because it is - but it's only a fraction of the $32 million (£20.8m, AU$34.8m) Canonical is seeking to fund its high-end new smartphone on Indiegogo.
The $600 (£390, AU$653) price point - which allowed 5,000 backers to secure the phone for themselves when it launches - sold out practically immediately, so they've added $625 (£406, AU$680), $675 (£439, AU$734), and $725 (£471, AU$789) tiers as well.
The next-lowest pricing tier after $600 was previously $830 (£540, AU$903), and Canonical is likely trying to rope in more low-level customers while it's still riding the wave of buzz from its initial announcement.
Get 'em while they're hot
Like the original $600 tier, each of the new price points gets backers a pre-order Ubuntu Edge smartphone.
All three have 1,250 slots available, though Canonical will offer more and more sub-$830 spots as the campaign continues.
The Ubuntu Edge is designed to be more powerful than anything that's being offered on the smartphone market today, including flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, iPhone 5, and Lumia 928.
With 4GB of RAM, dual LTE receivers, 128GB of storage, and likely a 4.5-inch display made of pure sapphire crystal, it may well succeed.
That of course depends on Canonical actually raising that $32 million, which seems only slightly less insane now that the campaign has reached $5 million in just a few days.
The company plans currently to make just 40,000 of the high-end Ubuntu Edge smartphones, with other, low- to mid-tier phones running Ubuntu possibly coming afterward.
- Curious about the inspiration behind the Ubuntu Edge? Canonical founder and space tourist Mark Shuttleworth has an anecdote about NASA for you.
Source : techradar[dot]com
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