openmoko nearly out

Update: I didn’t post the link to the source yet because there is a small delay. The new deadline will be the end of the fifteenth according to the announcement.

Update 2: The source is out! Announcement here, subversion #1, subversion #2. I’m not sure what’s in subversion #2 as I can’t connect right now but it’s linked from the announcement. I imagine it’s just a mirror.

Another disruption to the cellular phone market is on its way. This one isn’t just a phone, it’s a framework. I wrote about openmoko earlier and now the first deadline is nearly about to hit.

From #openmoko on freenode …

13:14 < aloril> a day 11:45:25 (1.490 days) for source for *all* developers and devices for selected developers (2007-02-11); a month, a day (29.490 days) for devices for *ANYBODY* for $350 (targeting developers) (preorders: not yet) (2007-03-11); 7 months, a day (213.490 days) for mass market (2007-09-11): see topic for more info (206)

That’s right, just under a day and a half for the first openmoko phone to be shipped. The FIC website still doesn’t have a page set up for their Neo 1973 yet but linuxdevices does.

The project is about to enter phase zero. Phones will be given to free to select developers, a few others will be able to buy them, and the source will be available for all. I expect news of early ports to start filtering out by the middle of next week and the project to have some polish on it by the first phase. It’s certainly a system to watch.