When consumers buy a smartphone they expect that there will be a suite of online services run by its vendor – they’ll be told to use these services, and they’ll happily obey.

If you ask people to buy a phone and choose their own services and products they’ll freak.

No one likes freedom – when they’re beset by it they throw off its shackles with all due haste.

Linux also lacks any semblance of a good CalDAV/CardDAV or ActiveSync implementation, which is the foundation of a smartphone’s usefulness as a synchronized e-mail, calendar and contact manager.

This is a non-starter.