The "Free your Phone" Revolution

Saturday, February 17, 2007

OpenMoko empowering the "Free your Phone" Revolution

People who love gadgets will simply adore the upcoming OpenMoko FIC Neo1973. Announced this past November 2006 and similar to iPhone, we are wondering if the Neo1973 will be released by summertime as the Apple's smartphone.

What makes the FIC Neo1973 different is the Linux-based OpenMoko; the first integrated Open Source Mobile Communications Platform, unique characteristic that has created great expectation.

Price for this smartphone will raise $350 USD approximately and its preliminary specifications include a Samsung s3c2410 SoC, Global Locate AGPS chip, 2 buttons instead of keypad, and a 2.8" VGA (480x640) TFT Touchscreen comprised in a 120.7 x 62 x 18.5 mm handset.

The Neo1973 will be GPRS capable, with 128 MB SDRAM and 64 MB NAND Flash. Connectivity is meant to be via unpowered USB 1.1 and will require a 1200-mAh battery charged over this USB port.

All the software packed with this smartphone will be Linux-powered and will include dialer, calendar, contacts, an application manager and some others, which are still under development.

In fact, all open source developers are invited to join the revolution participating with OpenMoko project with the goal to go free cell phones from traditional settings and operating systems in use today. Software contributions for this platform as well as further information can be found at www.openmoko.com