OpenMoko Launches Neo Freerunner While You Weren't Looking

The development hype around open-source cellphone OSes such as Google's Android and Nokia's Symbian has had me wondering for a while now whatever happened to the Linux-based, open-source OpenMoko.  After blogging about it last year I was interested in seeing what became of it--but around the time of their projected October '07 release date, development appeared to just...stop.  The site was still live but pre-order and release information for the Neo 1973 consumer handset had been taken down (though the semi-functional developer kit was still offered for sale).  I worried that it had just been another good Linux idea that died in development hell, like the Kerbango Internet radio, and it fell off my radar.

Fortunately I was wrong:  OpenMoko just launched their first consumer smartphone, renamed the Neo Freerunner, on July 4th.  It's a tri-band GSM phone that supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and runs OpenMoko's version of open-source Linux software.  It has a 2.8" VGA touchscreen (you can use your fingers or the included stylus), two 3-axis motion sensors, a 2.5mm headphone jack, and supports microSD cards.

Ars Technica takes an interesting first look at the open software platform, and it looks great.  With AGPS, games, multimedia and full webbrowsing support (using Apple's lean and powerful WebKit), it's already a strong contender, but the killer app here is the addition of a package installer in a retail phone--similar to Installer.app on the jailbroken iPhone, it offers users immediate access to a constantly updated database of free applications that can be cleanly installed with one click.

All that free software actually comes with a hefty pricetag, however--$399.  There's no camera and very little onboard storage, so as a direct competitor to the 3G iPhone its value proposition will have to be in the quality of available software; but this early in the lifecycle, there's not much available beyond the basics, so the initial stock will most likely find its way into the hands of diehard hackers and Linux geeks before seeing wider adoption.  But I'm excited to see where it goes, and have every intention of getting my hands on a test unit to see how it stacks up.

--Aric A.