China has tapped software company Canonical to come up with an open-source operating system for local use that will use the Ubuntu operating system. The OS, called Kylin, is slated for release in April.

Ubuntu is based on the Linux OS based on an open ethic which focuses on the sharing of the core computer code, in contrast to closed or proprietary systems used by Microsoft and Apple that offers limited access to the core or source code to only those within their operating systems.

China has a five-year plan to convince more Chinese to use open source software after it had a falling out with Google over the U.S. search engine giant's alleged discrimination against Chinese software companies.

The first version of the Ubuntu Kylin, to be known as version 13.04 which will only have 9 months of support instead of 18 and daily instead of monthly updates, aims to be sold to desktop and laptop computer owners. It will use Chinese character sets and reflect China's date conventions.

Succeeding versions will include features that would allow users to access popular Web services in China such as Baidu maps, Taobao shopping services and different office program versions and image management tools.

Canonical engineers and those from Chinese research and development agencies will create the code for the Ubuntu Kylin at a Beijing laboratory. It is also coordinating with China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on a Kylin version to run on servers so that portals, online companies and hosting firms can shift to the locally grown software.

"The collaboration will bring local investment and participation to ensure that the platform is relevant for the Chinese market, and close coordination with the global Ubuntu project ensures that it is familiar to software and hardware vendors, and useful for export products made by Chinese companies as well," Canonical Chief Executive Jane Silber said in a statement.

The shift to Ubuntu represents a loss for Apple and Microsoft because of the 1.34 billion potential Chinese market, although software piracy is also rampant in China.

A comparison of Ubuntu's performance against Windows and iOS are seen in the following videos.

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