Open Moko

Lord C · Post by **Lord C** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:58 am

Havn't seen any reference to http://www.openmoko.org/ here.

Seen you guys talk about the iPhone a little, so I thought I'd bring up the Open Moko Project.

Only relation being Mobile phones. (Well, Open Moko is an OS, not a phone itself).

For those interested in buying an Open mobile phone, see the Neo 1973.

This along with Open Moko, make a nice little development project tbh.

The software is not yet suitable for users. It is of alpha-quality -- that means many things are not there yet and there might be a lot of bugs. If you order a Neo1973, DO NOT expect to be able to use it as an everyday phone until December 2007 at the soonest, and probably later. *Update* It is now possible, with some work, to use the phone for short periods of time using the Qtopia project's root images. These images are not from the OpenMoko project, but they let one send and receive calls, use contacts, and other basic tasks.

Void Main · Post by **Void Main** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:36 pm

I have not heard of this but aren't there already phones out there running GNU/Linux? There are other free/open platforms out there already aren't there? I'm sure I've seen talk of them on /. and at LinuxDevices. Just curious.

Master of Reality · Post by **Master of Reality** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:57 pm

Motorola uses linux on some of its devices, but they're not open.

Void Main · Post by **Void Main** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:18 pm

Master of Reality wrote:Motorola uses linux on some of its devices, but they're not open.

Can you provide a link? They would have to at least provide the source for any GPL software they use to their customers that would request it. I know there are other phones out there that are open though. Here is a fairly large list:

http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT9423084269.html

I think one of the slashdot articles I read a while back was about this one called "The Green Phone" which is completely open:

http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS5201088922.html

Master of Reality · Post by **Master of Reality** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 12:32 pm

Your link to the linuxdevices list of phones has about 10 or so of the Motorola ones.

Void Main · Post by **Void Main** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 3:30 pm

I guess my question was what makes you say they are not open? They pretty much have to be to distribute Linux on their phone. I'm just asking because I am no expert on these things but I would be interested to know if they are in violation of the license(s).

Master of Reality · Post by **Master of Reality** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:05 am

The GUI and the code that runs the phones functions (calling, et cetera) they make for it would not have to be open though. I suppose thats what i meant?

Void Main · Post by **Void Main** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:10 pm

Heh heh, I suppose that could be what you meant. :) I just thought you must have read something about it somewhere and had a link. Was just curious.

Void Main · Post by **Void Main** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:05 am

So much for the green phone:

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6964769377.html

Trolltech has discontinued its Linux-based "Greenphone" development platform. Touted upon its introduction as the first Linux-based mobile phone with user-modifiable firmware, the device will be superseded by various third-party products, including not only open phones, but also portable media players, navigation devices, and home automation equipment, the company says.

Trolltech made a big splash with the Greenphone at LinuxWorld 2006. As the first Linux-based mobile phone with user-modifiable firmware, the phone was designed to provide wireless carriers and third-party application developers real-world target hardware. The phone enabled Trolltech to quickly pull together its Greensuite ecosystem of phone software providers.

Since the Greenphone's debut, however, another open phone has appeared on the market -- FIC's Neo1973. Trolltech subsequently adopted the Neo1973 (aka FIC GTA01) as supported development hardware.

Trolltech's CTO, Benoit Schilling, told LinuxDevices that developers are "very happy with the Neo1973 hardware," adding, "Trolltech is not really a hardware company, and we have a great relationship with FIC."

Schilling said Trolltech will continue to support the Greenphone and Neo1973, while extending its family of supported development hardware platforms to encompass a variety of device types. He hinted that a WiFi-enabled hardware design of some kind might be next in line -- no surprise given Trolltech's success with VoIP phones. He noted that "the Neo1973 does not have WiFi, and that has been a major criticism."

Calum · Post by **Calum** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:37 am

although i'm totally uninterested in portable phones, they (and electronic music) seem to be the big thing with IT consumers at the moment, so it's nice that open source software has some sort of foothold (oop! we have to say "linux" round here instead of open source, don't we!

)