Now isn't the time. It will be an exorbitantly expensive undertaking. Wait a few more years and save up for it. We get one shot. So many have failed before.

We need something like this. There's billions of smartphones, to say that there's only a market for two OS'es is ridiculous, especially as governments are cracking more and more down on the monopolistic tendencies that have given them their edge over the smaller competition. Combine that with an every increasing desire for privacy, and the market begins to become more and more realistic.
A privacy focused mobile OS that's not just made by a small company or group (like most alternative OS'es at the moment) but by a bigger player like Proton, would also make it much more attractive for app developers to make compatible apps, as they know that it isn't just some little niche thing, it will have proper potential that can realistically be built upon.

Alternatively you can try releasing your own smarthphone with degoogled Android or a private Android fork like Graphene OS

I know this cannot be done soon or easily and many have failed trying this like Microsoft, Samsung, Palm, Ubuntu, Mozilla, etc. But I certainly support the idea and hope it can be achieved one day.

While this would be cool, it would probably consume a lot of their time and effort, and would mean that other projects get much less attention. I would be 100% down to see this though, if they can pull it off

It's something like Harmony‌‌OS.?

I was going to post the same.

My thought is build a secure de-googled android os (or a brand new one) with proton apps natively built in. This may require a few more mobile apps to be created. (Proton Web browser, Proton Messaging client with e2e encryption, etc.)

IMPOSSIBRUUUUUUUUUU - YES please!

It would be nice for there to be more Mobile OS developers, but I don't think Proton should be one of them. They should stick to one area (which right now is email/drive-related stuff) and excel at that.

I think a much better approach would be for Proton to partner with GrapheneOS to release a cost-effective non-Pixel phone preloaded with and supported by GrapheneOS. The tricky part here is mostly about having a phone with hardware security on-par with Pixel.

And of course, remove all App dependencies for google play services.
And of course, maintain downloads and updates for all Proton Apps via FDroid in addition to play store.

To improve Proton, enhance encryption for greater privacy, streamline the user interface for ease of use, increase integration with third-party apps, offer more storage, and improve mobile app performance. Expanding customer support options would also help.hopefully its help you.

Dear Tech Air,

this is a Feature request board. Not a place for advertisement.

Proton doesn't need to be an everything company for privacy. They need to focus on the email and a few other services to complement it. A full mobile OS would be more than is needed from them. There are already alternatives, donate to those if you want them to be better.

I think creating a proton launcher would be much easier. Sadly no one is cracking android any time soon

It is extremely difficult to create working operating system. I don't see that Proton could manage this at this stage. Just degoogle your Android phone using adb and it is pretty private.

Proton's interface could be more user-friendly with intuitive design elements and customizable features. Additionally, enhancing security measures and offering more robust customer support would significantly improve the user experience, ensuring greater satisfaction and trust among its users.https://fmwaapp.net/

This is a terrible idea, proton are already too distracted from core product quality and features

I think a mobile/desktop (hybrid) operating system based on Linux using the GNOME Shell would be a good place to start. Having all the Proton apps preinstalled with a unified system login for all the apps would be great.

Only issue would be that there are a few gaps in the ecosystem at present that would need to be addressed:

• Browser (based on Gecko, see Librewolf)

• Contacts app

• Communication app (covering text / voice / video using the Signal protocol)

• Photos / videos app (with camera integration)

• Maps app (using OpenStreetMap data with Proton-themed tiles)

• Notes app (StandardNotes)

• Office suite (StandardNotes potentially covers word processing and spreadsheets, but not slides)

• Settings app (for all Proton services, plus other system settings and third-party apps)

Proton should make their own Privacy OS that works on Desktop and Phone.

Since, they are trying to be an ecosystem. The best way to combat Windows, iOS, Android, etc, is to be the first privacy company to make a new OS from scratch for phone, tablet, and desktop. That can interconnect like Apple's ecosystem.

How cool would it be to finally have another competitor like Proton OS against Android, iOS, Windows.

That prioritizes privacy and security above all else.

Which could bring Privacy/Security into the mainstream for some folks who are tired of big tech and their greedy hands into AI which they are using to violate our privacy rights.

I know this would take development time and lots of money. But I wish it was on the roadmap. As the only way to get people to fight for the privacy initiative is to make easy and simple to use software that is easily accessible and already pre-built and ready to be used in the market.

There also needs to finally be another smartphone OS competitor. As Firefox OS, and Windows Phone OS were all failures and we need to fight this duopoly. I believe Proton can do that fight and succeed.

I like the idea, just not at this stage. I think Proton needs more apps in its suite of products before jumping to making entire operating systems (PC or mobile).