One of the world's largest computer and consumer electronics manufacturers will ship a completely open, Linux-based, GPS-equipped, quad-band GSM/GPRS phone direct, worldwide, for USD 350 or less, in Q1, 2007. The Neo1973 is the first phone based on the open-source 'OpenMoKo' platform.
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Member since:
2006-04-24
Member since:2006-08-18
Member since:
2006-02-20
I like what I'm reading but I'm not very taken by the design. It's too basic in all the wrong ways and lacks sex appeal. Kinda looks like a flip-flop sandal missing the toe strap or an enlongated white puck with colored edge protectors. I can kinda see what they were shooting for, kinda IPod simplicity, but it's just too... meh.
Member since:
2005-07-11
Member since:
2006-02-15
until I saw the FCC approval before I held out hope for this in the US.
Also, while the carriers may not control what you can do with the SIM card, they can control what you can do with their network through the SIM card. Don't expect a phone like this to work with all of a carrier's speciality stuff.
Member since:
2006-08-30
People have to realize that FIC is initially targetting software developers primarilly and users secondly. I believe they're hoping that this would slowly shift in the coming years and would improve a) its looks and b) its price as the demand increases.
So for people who're looking for phones to use, wait if you want to. I'm trying to get one to develop software on it for possible offering to my clients.
Member since:
2005-07-06
Member since:2005-11-28
Well spank me with a herring I was going to steer my modem with semaphore 
Seriously for a second, which is better, AT style commands which virtually every single developer understands and allows you to reuse obscene amounts of code and applications or making something special tied to this device which makes the code difficult to use elsewhere?
Anything to do with telecoms and mobile phones has a huge amount of regulations and compliance testing required for many countries, having this part not exactly black boxed but hands off allows this device to ship and work. I don't see this as a copout, more a practical solution to the problem. If you want to fix this, don't complain to the HW manufacturer, complain to your govenment representative.
As for only having GPRS, this is a limited run of a first generation device aimed at developers. Yes it would be wonderful to have an open device that utterly blows away the competition in every aspect but hardware costs are heavily affected by volume and this is a low volume device to begin with.
I think it is a bloody good start and I don't think the cost is particually high either. As for the poster who compared it to the cost of an axim they are missing the point as this is not YET designed to be a mass consumer product.
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:
2006-11-08
