Get an OPENSOURCE iPhone!

[Tim]

It's the neo1973 from OpenMoko!


Dear Community!

Today is the day that we've all been waiting for: We can finally take
your order for the world's first freed phone.

Neos are waiting in customs just outside our factory in SuZhou. Early
this week, they will start their journey to FIC America in Fremont,
California. We're sending them by air so they should arrive really fast.
(We'll update you as soon as we know more tracking information.)

Get them while they're still hot ;-)

http://www.openmoko.com (http://www.openmoko.com/)

Right now we only have the credit card payment option in place. Later
this week we should be able to take wire transfers.

Now, "Free Your Phone."

-OpenMoko / FIC

http://www.openmoko.com/uploaded_images/17.png

http://www.openmoko.com/uploaded_images/18.png

[Gerry]

That is absolutely incredible. An open source phone. Write your own code.

Unbelievable and a damn nice design to boot!

Connectivity

Besides standard features like a GPRS-capable quad-band GSM modem and local connectivity through Bluetooth and USB, the Neo 1973 sports a crisp 640×480 LCD display with a near photographic resolution (283 dpi). And with AGPS-enabled, your Neo knows it’s location and reacts accordingly.



The question is what carrier will it be compatible with and who will allow it if they are not selling it?



Very impressive screen shots.

[Tim]

I believe you can use any carrier so long as they support the GSM chip. My brick (T-Mobile MDA) has a GSM chip. I bet I could just pop in the chip and go.

I think it is like you going to Fry's and selecting your own landline phone...does anyone remember having phone company issued phones? The rotary and 1st rev touch tones?

This represents a significant, yet peripheral, break from traditional mobile thinking imo.

[iNod]

I am getting one, just waiting on a few things to come into play than I am buying mine ;)

- Steve

[Scandiman]

I think it is like you going to Fry's and selecting your own landline phone...does anyone remember having phone company issued phones? The rotary and 1st rev touch tones?Oh yea, I grew up with one of these bad boys!
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k144/nostalgiamanila/stuff/telepono4.jpg

[Gerry]

I believe you can use any carrier so long as they support the GSM chip. My brick (T-Mobile MDA) has a GSM chip. I bet I could just pop in the chip and go.

I think it is like you going to Fry's and selecting your own landline phone...does anyone remember having phone company issued phones? The rotary and 1st rev touch tones?

This represents a significant, yet peripheral, break from traditional mobile thinking imo.That all sounds good...if you know what it means.

Me, I don't.

But interested enough to find out. Nice looking package.

Do the specs match up to iPhone as far as resolution, clarity, screen size etc?

[Scandiman]

That all sounds good...if you know what it means.

Me, I don't.

But interested enough to find out.
With many phones, you can take the chip out of one phone and put it into a new phone to make the new phone active on your cell phone #. There are plenty of exceptions to this so it is important to check with the carrier and the device capabilities.

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/cell-phone-pccard3.jpg

[nombre]

I am getting one, just waiting on a few things to come into play than I am buying mine ;) steve, what carrier are you using ?

will anyone here in the west allow this phone to be used ?

i.e. rogers, telus, bell. fido, virgin etc

[mejcdj]

I can't seem to get any pricing info.

[Gerry]

I can't seem to get any pricing info.

https://direct.openmoko.com/


http://www.openmoko.com/uploaded_images/17.png
Neo Base - Developer preview
The Neo Base kit contains everything the mobile application developer needs to enjoy the benefits of the first freed phone, the Neo 1973.
Price: $300 USD




http://www.openmoko.com/uploaded_images/18.png

Neo Advanced - Developer preview
The Neo Advanced Kit everything the mobile device hacker wants to get down and dirty with the first freed phone, the Neo 1973.
Price: $450 USD

[mejcdj]

Thanks again Gerry :)

I don't know abuot you guys, but this is really exciting. This brings the mobile phone closer to the PC than ever. We will have scripts and programs for all the wonderful things we want to do with our sites :)

[fathomjh]

Prices not too bad. Imagine the possibilities you could do. Your customized set up and what not.

[surfmale]

"first freed phone, the Neo 1973"

the web site sucks hardly expailns the product.. Am i behind the times here??


What is it ?

How can it even come close to the I phone?

What type of person would want this ?

Please Explain..

Thanks

[Gerry]

Please Explain..

ThanksIt is essentially an open source UNIX/Linux based system. No licensing like Apple or Microsoft programming. You would be able to write you own code and have your phone perform the way you want it to.

You are not locked into any one carrier. With the proper chip set, you would choose who you wanted to be the telephone provider.

This is a phone that would not loose ground to new technology and updates as it is "freed" from the Palm OS, Apple OS, MS OS. It is totally open source code.

That is how I see it in a nutshell, very basic terms as I understand this to be. Essentially, you tell the phone what to be, how to act, how to connect, what to view, and it is programmable and flexible.

I am not an expert in CSS, CMS, Linux/Unix or all the other open sources, but this would be an incredible tool. And it looks damn nice too!

[surfmale]

Wow very cool, thanks for explaining..