The first Ubuntu phone will hit Europe later this year, following the failed IndieGoGo campaign by Canonical to launch the high-end Ubuntu Edge running Ubuntu and Android OS.

Spanish electronics phone maker BQ will utilize the Aquaris E4.5 and reskin the device with Ubuntu's mobile OS. The original BQ Aquaris E4.5 runs Android 5.0 and is sold in Europe for $191 (€169).

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The relatively low-key launch will take place next Monday, and will continue in a series of flash sales, ensuring Ubuntu fans are able to grab the device without it competing against mass market companies like Apple and Samsung.

"We're launching in a very different way and I think that's critical. We can't replicate the mistakes made by other platforms in recent years that have gone for volume on day one by sticking phones on retail and not really giving any thought to what it takes to launch in a mature and cluttered mobile market," said Christian Parrino, Canonical's VP of mobile.

The BQ Aquaris E4.5 features a 4.5-inch (540 x 960) qHD display, 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor, 1 GB of RAM, Mali 400 GPU and 8 GB of onboard storage.

Ubuntu is still working on its mobile operating system, making sure all of the universal apps from desktop to mobile work, alongside all of its new mobile-only features.

The original Ubuntu Edge was a much larger project, looking for $27 million in backing. It received over half of the goal-more than any other IndieGoGo campaign-but it wasn't enough for Ubuntu to go ahead with manufacturing the Edge.

TagsUbuntu OS, Aquaris E4.5, linux, Canonical