OPEN CREATES OPPORTUNITIES
I need a phone, but I wanted an OpenMoko. (Actually I didn’t want en OpenMoko but a Neo FreeRunner, OpenMoko is the software making this device work.) Why? Because it is open, and that is where I think the opportunities are. And being early gives me a lead time in understanding this phenomena of ‘opening’ mobile communications.
FREERUNNER A PHONE?
The Neo FreeRunner is basically a pocket computer that can be used as a phone. This device talks everything conceivable, including GPS. All the components are selected to be as open as possible, meaning that the hardware schematics are available and/or GPL compatible drivers exist.
A PHONE IF YOU WANT
OpenMoko (Om2008) is a ’stack’ for the Neo FreeRunner. In computer terms you would call this the operating system. In telephone terms you don’t have an immediate analogy. It is advertised as development and if you want to use your FreeRunner as a “consumer ready phone” Qtopia (Trolltech, the company behind Qtopia, is now part of Sun) is a more interesting alternative. (When my FreeRunner has to be my phone that is what I use.)
MORE OF A PHONE
Apart from Om2008 and Qtopia there are some alternatives. Debian has ported its mobile version in less than a week. They only needed the encouragement of an open source veteran (Jon “maddog” Hall) and a test device. After installation I confirmed it worked but was not yet ready to replace Qtopia. It is pretty (important consideration in phone software) and it makes my FreeRunner into a phone. But it lacks necessary components like power management. Om2008 looks very promising as well. It is Qtopia with a new interface and the OpenMoko team is enabling the use of functionality like GPS.
ACCESSIBILITY AS AN EXAMPLE
Do we already see that this openness is resulting in new applications? The FreeRunner has two accelerometers. These are devices that measure gestures, position and movement over short distances. One application of an accelerometer is that the screen adjusts itself in orientation to the devices position. Of course gestures can be used to play games. But gestures can also be used to operate the basic of your phone (shaking the phone dials an emergency number.)
WAITING FOR ANDROID
Currently my FreeRunner is my phone. But I am waiting for Google Android (as are many others.) Android has managed to build quite a community. But perhaps Android is like the Google Mini, very closed. Though I think that would be a mistake. I expect Android to become THE linux distribution for hand held devices, including low end phones. If Android does not live up to its expectations there will be enough alternatives.
