For the full report from the Bangkok Post click on this link
Open-source mobile phones could unleash sales-Neo1973 to be launched Sept 11 - by Dr Arnat Leemakdej
The Chinese government has joined with a large cellular phone manufacturer, First International Computing (FIC) to create the first phone that runs an open-source operating system called OpenMoko.
Their phone comes with all the goodies: a touch screen, micro SD flash card slot, Bluetooth, GPRS, and Global Positioning System (GPS). The phone also can run Windows Mobile as an alternative operating system. The prototype is now ready to ship to developers; the public release date has been set this year for Sept 11. The model is called Neo1973 in recognition of the year the cellular phone was first invented.
Neo1973 sounds like the first Apple II computer and its clones in 1977. Those used open source for all the internal codes, thus triggering the widespread use of microcomputers in business and for personal use worldwide. On the software side it's quite certain that OpenMoko will be based on Linux and allows almost anything to happen. You can develop software that co-ordinates the GPS, the Internet, the voice and the SMS of the phone.
Neo1973 also has the capability called the Application Manager that works similar to the apt-get function of Linux. This will make your phone like a PC so you can upgrade your software or even the operating system. And best of all you can share the software with your friends.
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