OpenMoko - open source Linux-based handset on its way

Nec picked up on my point about open source smartphone/handsets and commented thus:

wait for neo1973 and openmoko.
will be available in mid february (hope so), with being around 350$

neo1973 and openmoko were linked to openmoko.com.

I had a look at the PDF presentation given, I believe, by Sean Moss-Pultz of OpenMoko. The first slide reads:

Open, but not as usual.
How to disrupt an industry, but make more money for everyone.

Got my attention…

Flicked on a few more slides….

I’ve got two big itches.
That I’ve been wanting to scratch for years.
• I can never upgrade or customize my phone. I have to buy a new one every few months if I want some new (software) feature to work.
• Mobile platforms are proprietary and scattered. Developers have no easy way to create applications and deliver services that span all users.

Ah, now you’re talking… Another slide …

Instead we build a mobile phone that
• Has only the most basic features
– easy phone dialing
– easy messaging
• And great hardware
– beautiful screen
– nice to hold in your hand
– easily expandable memory

[paraphrasing]… and Linux

The user interface looks rather nifty —

Very exciting. I’ll wait to see when this is available and buy one. That’s exactly what I’m after — estensible, properly open… very interesting indeed.

More please! More of the same! By the way, do check out the OpenMoko presentation — it’ll take a wee bit to load, but it a) gives a lot of info and b) looks extremely good.