OpenMoko Neo 1973 and Advanced dev kit finally for sale

Naw, it's not really the truly open and hackable software-defined radio based cellphones we've long lusted after, but the OpenMoko Linux / GNU based GSM platform (and hardware) is finally up for sale. $300 brings home an OpenMoko Neo 1973 (aka Neo Base kit), perfect for getting your OpenMoko app dev project started. $450 brings home the Neo Advanced kit, "everything the mobile device hacker wants to get down and dirty with the first freed phone". Happy hacking.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Miles @ Jul 9th 2007 2:48AM]

Can't wait until Apple takes it off the market!

[paloooz @ Jul 9th 2007 2:57AM]

How any why would they do that?

[Miles @ Jul 9th 2007 2:58AM]

Steve even said it himself.

They'd take down any iPhone rip offs.

So far all of them have been Chinese, but this one seems to have made it around the world.

Lawsuit time!

[paloooz @ Jul 9th 2007 3:10AM]

How is this an iPhone ripoff?

[Mike @ Jul 9th 2007 3:12AM]

ehh, this phone was in development long before the iPhone was announced. I doubt Apple can do anything about it. And it's certainly will not have as wide of an audience as the iPhone.

[David Eilers @ Jul 9th 2007 3:21AM]

This isn't an iPhone ripoff. This is a completely independent platform announced prior to the iPhone. It's open source. Its a platform for others to develop on. Not something Apple seems to be aiming for. http://www.openmoko.org/

[Alan Strangis @ Jul 9th 2007 9:13AM]

LOL! This phone (including multitouch capabilities) was announced about 2 months before the iPhone.

But I guess ignorance (of back links) is bliss. Now if only Apple would release a dev kit that included a special screwdriver and guitar pick for easy opening.

Questions for all:

Anyone know the physical dimensions of the Neo 1973, and what kind of maps it's GPS supports? It's the only relevant info I can't find on the site, and will make a huge difference on my ordering decision.

[Basman @ Jul 9th 2007 2:52AM]

So you can just put your current simcard in this and it will work?

[mail @ Jul 9th 2007 4:09AM]

I own several of these phones (I was one of the first lot of 50 that received test units). It will work with any SIM, and any provider - it is pure GSM and completely unlocked.

[Aidin Brown @ Jul 9th 2007 2:54AM]

about frickin time... watch iphone sales drop! haha

[gerbick @ Jul 9th 2007 3:12AM]

Wasn't this officially shown when the iPhone was still speculation?

As far as it goes, this isn't an iPhone rip-off as previously stated. That's really a stretch by any imagination.

[anon @ Jul 9th 2007 3:32AM]

what did you expect? Apple fans are not the most logical or sensible people around, probably the side effects from long term exposure to the Reality Distortion Field emanated from Jobs.

[Matt @ Jul 9th 2007 6:41AM]

Hey man be-careful, as I am a Apple fanboy and even I can see the is not a rip of the iPhone, I always say.... is Ford going to say that GMC copied them by making a pickup truck. After all the 3.5" (or large) cell phone touch screen idea is great. I look forward to seeing more like it.

Life is yours, chose what you want!

[tomijlahtinen @ Jul 9th 2007 3:31AM]

Now where can I buy one?

[mustharshid @ Jul 9th 2007 3:57AM]

What's this to do with iphone?

[spam_from_engadget @ Jul 9th 2007 6:58AM]

IMHO, the main connection with the iPhone is that neither of them is 3G. So both will try to appeal to, erm, people like engadget readers who will appreciate the software (whether it is SW of the Apple or Linux variety), but the very same people will be turned off the products by their hardware specs.

In the case of OpenMoko, it's not just a matter of not being 3G; it also lacks WiFi and doesn't have a camera. At FOSDEM the OpenMoko man (sorry, forgotten his name) said that there would be another version (later in the year I think) that would add "the thing that everyone has been asking for". I'm not sure if he meant Wifi or a camera. The thing that's launching now has neither.

[Locus @ Jul 9th 2007 3:50AM]

Why not go the opposite?

The iphone is clearly a ripoff of this device.
Clearly.

actually thier all ripoffs of the 8000x when you think about it..

[Matt @ Jul 9th 2007 6:44AM]

Sorry if I sound stupid, but what is this 8000x you speak of?

[TJ @ Jul 9th 2007 7:50AM]

I think he's referring to the Motorola DynaTAC 8000x

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6773/dynatacpx8.jpg

I dunno why he would compare those though. I guess he wants to compare the first cellphone (approved by the FCC) to the iphone. It really gives me a headache to figure out why people compare apples with oranges :D

[Reader @ Jul 9th 2007 4:00AM]

OMG. Not every cell phone needs to be compared to the fricking iPhone!

And to add, I really like the idea of an open source cell phone.

[Dragod @ Jul 9th 2007 4:08AM]

Yup, if something has a touch screen, it must be an iPhone clone. Afterall, Apple did invent the phone and the touch screen.

[az1324 @ Jul 9th 2007 4:52AM]

In keeping with their sharing mentality, it's nice to see that they took (their inspiration from) the Cingular logo and the "newness" of such names as O2's neo and neonode.

Like the concept though. Better get wifi quick.

[manimal @ Jul 9th 2007 6:07AM]

seems wifi will be availible in october? atleast thats what it says at the bottom of this page: http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo1973 using the atheros chip. it says its for phase2 or "mass market" release.. I'll be waiting til then..

[manimal @ Jul 9th 2007 5:44AM]

I didn't think this would come out for another couple months.

I'd much prefer this to any other phone on the market, simply because its opensource, has some level of hackability, and isn't nearly as expensive as some comparable options.

[Todd @ Jul 9th 2007 9:31AM]

The implications of this phone cannot be overstated. It is the carrier's worst nightmare since it turns them into "dumb pipes". To get an sense of the potential ( and passion ) of the Neo I strongly recommend you read this presentation by Sean Moss-Pultz ( pdf link ):

www.openmoko.com/files/OpenMoko_Neologics.pdf

And to address some of the legit questions and "haters"...
1 - The Neo available now is an ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT model, it's not the final consumer model. The consumer models will be out in October and will cost more.
2 - All these iPhone references are ridiculous! The Neo is a full blown Linux computer that is open to any functionality, feature or GUI behavior you wish to create. It is the raw material you need, NOT a finished product. If the iPhone doesn't do something you want, you can make the Neo do it, and then some.

[nicholas @ Jul 9th 2007 10:18AM]

As the owner of an iPhone, I must say that many of my gripes with the iThing are essentially with respect to openness. One cannot create applications, or transfer files, or play with the interface. The Neo1973 is no rip off of the iPhone.

The only problem with the OpenMoko is the processing speed. I’d like to see Processing Mobile running on something like this, and it looks like this mobile may be the first interesting platform for the framework. How it will handle a complex application framework is something that will be interesting to see. very nice!

[tiuk @ Jul 9th 2007 10:56AM]

Does this mean Stallman can finally get a cellphone?

[Jesse S @ Jul 9th 2007 12:21PM]

They should have made this phone a world phone. It should have all GSM bands, and all CDMA bands, with the sim-like card adapter for CDMA (I forget the name, but it is in use in Korea and maybe China).

Also, WHY NO KEYBOARD? Seriously...

[Todd @ Jul 9th 2007 12:38PM]

Sir - The Neo available for sale today is an engineering pre-release, different radios may or may not be added. It's entirely up to YOU to join the OpenMoko community, contribute and make requests to FIC for different radios.

Here in America CDMA is Sprint and Verizon - who refuse to open their network to other handsets, so there is no sense in making a CDMA Neo.

The USB keyboard development work that has been done for Linux should work with the Neo, including drivers. There is no integrated keyboard, but a future consumer version may have one.

[Jesse S @ Jul 9th 2007 12:47PM]

Thanks for the response. :) I know, Sprint and Verizon's policies regarding phones that aren't theirs sucks. I'd join the development, but I have to use Verizon.

Hmm...Maybe as a second phone.

[murray @ Jul 9th 2007 1:48PM]

I hope the phone works better than their website.

[Solomon @ Jul 9th 2007 3:10PM]

So true, it is very slow now. But that's a good indicator that word is spreading!

Yes, this is Phase 1, intended for early adopters. In October, Phase 2 will be out. Phase 2 is going to be so polished that it is intended for the general market, not just tech nerds. Also, Phase 2 will be WAY better than this: 2 accelerometers, WiFi, double RAM, double flash, 140% battery life.
All of this information is available on the OpenMoko Wiki (http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Main_Page).

Someone asked about dimensions: 120.7 x 62 x 18.5 mm (roughly 4.75 x 2.5 x .75 inches).

Comparison with iPhone: http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/IPhone.