Linux phone to call in down under

29.01.2007
Multinational mobile handset makers may be dabbling with Linux-powered phones for Asia and the U.S., but the Australian market has been largely ignored, that is until OpenMoko arrives later this year.

The brainchild of Sean Moss-Pultz, OpenMoko is a Linux-based mobile phone operating system which allows open application development, in contrast to the proprietary nature of many of today's mobile handsets.

The first phone to ship with OpenMoko will be the Neo1973 by Taiwanese manufacturer First International Computer Inc. (FIC).

Worldwide sales of the Neo1973 we begin from the OpenMoko.com e-commerce site in March for US$350. Moss-Pultz assured Computerworld the device can be purchased by Australians.

In addition to global sales directly from OpenMoko, the company is in discussions with local mobile carriers for possible resale agreements.

When asked if OpenMoko has had interest from Australia's mobile operators, including the big names like Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, and Virgin Mobile, Moss-Pultz said "quite a bit".