FIC to release Linux based Smartphone
New phone to have quadband GSM, and has integrated GPS, 128MB RAM, 64MB ROM, micro-SD slot and a 2.8in VGA screen
"One of the world's largest computer and consumer electronics manufacturers will ship a completely open, Linux-based, GPS-equipped, quad-band GSM/GPRS phone direct, worldwide, for $350 or less, in Q1, 2007. First International Computing's (FIC's) "Neo1973" or FIC-GTA001, is the first phone based on the open-source "OpenMoKo" platform."
The Neo1973 was designed from the ground up to take both OpenMoKo and Windows Mobile, which make this a very exciting looking and interesting device. Due to be shipped in volume in Q1 2007, the Neo1973 is quadband GSM, and has integrated GPS, 128MB RAM, 64MB ROM, micro-SD slot and a 2.8in VGA screen. The processor will be a Samsung which from the model quoted is probably a 200MHz-266MHz model, and the device seems to lack almost any kind of hardware buttons at all, much less a keyboard.
While not exactly earth-shaking, the Neo does represent a pretty fresh approach and some interesting design trade-offs. The price should be very competitive, for an unlocked GSM phone with all these features.. Is Linux the Smartphone of the future? We will just have to wait and see.
"One of the world's largest computer and consumer electronics manufacturers will ship a completely open, Linux-based, GPS-equipped, quad-band GSM/GPRS phone direct, worldwide, for $350 or less, in Q1, 2007. First International Computing's (FIC's) "Neo1973" or FIC-GTA001, is the first phone based on the open-source "OpenMoKo" platform."
The Neo1973 was designed from the ground up to take both OpenMoKo and Windows Mobile, which make this a very exciting looking and interesting device. Due to be shipped in volume in Q1 2007, the Neo1973 is quadband GSM, and has integrated GPS, 128MB RAM, 64MB ROM, micro-SD slot and a 2.8in VGA screen. The processor will be a Samsung which from the model quoted is probably a 200MHz-266MHz model, and the device seems to lack almost any kind of hardware buttons at all, much less a keyboard.
While not exactly earth-shaking, the Neo does represent a pretty fresh approach and some interesting design trade-offs. The price should be very competitive, for an unlocked GSM phone with all these features.. Is Linux the Smartphone of the future? We will just have to wait and see.
