FIC's Linux-based FIC-GTA001 GSM smartphone encourages hacking

Hot on the heels of DrewTech's Linux-powered DashDAQ is FIC's own piece of Linux-based hawtness, the FIC-GTA001 mobile. While the company is already familiar in the world of CDMA, this marks the firm's first endeavor into the realm of GSM smartphones. Sporting a 2.8-inch 640 x 480 resolution touchscreen with "multi-touch gesture recognition," GPS capabilities, dedicated "emergency paging button," and an "iPod-quality MP3 player," the svelte cellphone is primed for homebrew apps thanks to the inclusion of the SDK right in the box. FIC is hoping that adopters will participate in developer communities to craft new and improved applications for the limitless device, and even hopes to enable wireless uploads / downloads of completed files. The device is powered by a Samsung S3C2410 ARM9-based processor, 128MB of internal RAM, and 64MB of flash memory, but unfortunately there's no scheduled release date or expected price for the open-source (and delightfully styled) handset.

[daviel @ Nov 7th 2006 1:07PM]

this is so sweet!
can't wait for them!
homebrew on cells with no hassle!
woot!

[Rollins @ Nov 7th 2006 1:12PM]

Holy damn on the screen resolution.

I'll believe it when I see it.

[Ken @ Nov 7th 2006 1:37PM]

sek-see!

[Jim @ Nov 7th 2006 1:46PM]

The Inquirer reckons that the price is $350 and the release date January...

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=35590

[sean @ Nov 7th 2006 1:52PM]

I WANT

Though I'm worried about the emergency paging button. I currently have the HTC Apache and I'm ALWAYS accidentally knocking buttons on the touchscreen when I put it in my pocket. More deets on the emergency paging?

[Todd @ Nov 7th 2006 1:54PM]

I agree with Buzzsaw - it does smell of vaporware a little bit...

...but MAN! If it were to be for real, it would be so awesome! A real mobile, completely open - I would pay way more than $350 for one ( or three ).

The guys at Silicon Valley Homebrew Mobile Phone Club are building phones from scratch, but I ain't smart enough fer that.

http://telefono.revejo.org/article/10/silicon-valley-homebrew-mobile-phone-club

[abigsmurf @ Nov 7th 2006 2:06PM]

Give that phones have to use all sorts of proprietry software and protocols just to be compatible with existing networks, Isn't an OS in Linux more of a gimmick than a true cost saving measure?

With my experience in low powered handhelds running Linux, they tend to make even Windows Mobile 5 look stable

[Simon @ Nov 7th 2006 2:12PM]

Hmm, the illustrations make it look like it's huge and there is no mention of WiFi. Would have been too good, had it WiFi and the size of an actual smartphone.

[Murc @ Nov 7th 2006 11:41PM]

its good lookin to...if it was used for direction, music, and homebrew applications...but its also a phone...and its a pretty ugly phone.
I see the speaker holes at the top...but wheres the mic??? do ya just talk-2-tha hole?

[Khargan @ Nov 8th 2006 6:16AM]

Judging from the pictures and the screen being 2,8 inches, the dimensions would be about 4,3 x 2,2 x 0,7 inches, or 10,9 x 5,6 x 1,8 cm. Small enough for me, roughly the size of my HTC Magician ... .

I�ll take one, for that price!

[aws910 @ Nov 8th 2006 11:48AM]

Will it come with Duke Nukem Forever?

[cdavenport4 @ Jan 17th 2007 6:00PM]

Now that's funny!!!