Posted on 3-Jul-2008 08:05
| Filed under: News
: Linux
Openmoko has announced plans to start accepting orders for its Neo FreeRunner mobile handset from this 4th July, with shipping starting on the 7th July. The Neo Freerunner is based on the Linux operating system.
The company has announced agreements with five distributors for the Neo Freerunner Open Source mobile phone, including Pulster, Golden Delicious Computers and TRIsoft located in Germany, Bearstech in France and IDA Systems based in India.
The new Openmoko Neo Freerunner phone will ship with a basic developer platform. Subsequent software can be downloaded from the Openmoko developer site. The Neo Freerunner comes to market after Openmoko shipped the highly successful Neo 1973 in 2007. Distributors will offer either the 850 MHz or 900 MHz models of the Neo Freerunner to accommodate telecommunications frequencies worldwide.
This device comes with core software for dialing, SMS and recording contacts. Openmoko will supplement these features with periodic downloads beginning with a software suite that takes full advantage of the phone's hardware platform. The new software, debuting at Linux world in August, will provide new location based applications.
Two versions of the phone will be available: 850MHz or 900 MHz Tri-band GSM to match frequencies in different countries. Black, oval-shaped and weighing 6.5 ounces, the Openmoko Neo FreeRunner features a 2.8" 480 x 640 VGA touchscreen, Wi-Fi (802.1 1b/g), AGPS, GPRS 2.5G, Bluetooth 2.0, two 3-axis motion sensors and comes with 128MB WSDRAM and 256MB NAND Flash. It is powered by 500MHz Samsung S3C2442 SoC (System on Chip).
Using the Openmoko mobile platform, the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) community and developers can create unique versions of the FreeRunner phone, modifying the way the phone operates and even the way it looks. CAD files publicly available under a Creative Commons license make it easy for industrial designers to change the appearance of the Openmoko Neo FreeRunner and select alternate materials and finishes to tailor the phone's look and feel.
The Openmoko Neo FreeRunner has a suggested retail price of US$399. Openmoko will sell the phone directly from it its web store and via distributors in the EU, India and North America.
