On July 4, Taiwan-based device manufacturer OpenMoko began selling its Linux-based touch-screen device, the Neo FreeRunner, an open source rival to the Apple iPhone. While the release date was a bit of a marketing ploy -- celebrating an open source device on Independence Day -- the Neo FreeRunner delivered a GNU/Linux handset with integrated core software for dialing, SMS and recording contacts. Additional features will be added overtime through periodic downloads and a software suite that will debut at LinuxWorld next month.
OpenMoko's Neo FreeRunner will be available in two versions, an 850 MHz model or a 900 MHz tri-band GSM model to match the wireless frequencies in different countries.
The black, oval-shaped handset weighs in at 6.5 ounces and features a 2.8-inch 480 by 640 resolution VGA touch-screen, Wi-Fi connectivity through 802.11 b/g, AGPS, GPRS 2.5G, Bluetooth 2.0 support, two three-axis motion sensors and 128 MB of WSDRAM and 256 MB of NAND Flash memory.
