Announced last monthTermination of Ubuntu Development Action Marketing ProgramAt the same time, the desktop version of Ubuntu will return to the old GNOME interface design and will no longer use the later Unity unified interface. Canonical will shift its development focus to server and cloud service projects, and will also streamline the number of employees. Among them, Jane Silber, who originally served as CEO, is confirmed to leave and will be replaced by Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth.
In an earlier interview, Mark Shuttleworth further confirmed that the company will be planning to go public in the future, but there is still no specific timetable at this stage.
As the company's private cloud service business has grown by 70% and the public cloud service business has grown by 90%, Canonical, which has abandoned the mobile market and focused more on the server and cloud market, is once again rumored to be planning an IPO to expand the company's development scale. In an interview at the OpenStack Summit earlier, Mark Shuttleworth also confirmed that there are indeed plans for an IPO, but there is still no specific timetable at this stage.
Canonical's previous development strategy was to build Ubuntu based on Linux for most PC devices, and even further develop mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablets, and even launch mobile phones and tablets using Ubuntu Touch. However, due to the fierce competition in the mobile market, coupled with cost and development opportunities, Canonical later decided to abandon the development of the mobile market, and even further canceled the Unity unified interface that was later adopted, and returned the desktop version of Ubuntu to the old GNOME interface design.
Currently, Canonical's main development focus has gradually shifted to server applications and cloud service projects. Ubuntu, which still performs quite well in the server market at this stage, is expected to drive greater growth. If it chooses to go public and raise funds at this time, it is expected that Canonical will be able to successfully obtain more funds.
