Openmoko
Encyclopedia
Openmoko is a project to create a family of open source
mobile phone
s, including the hardware specification and the operating system. The project was sponsored by Openmoko Inc.
The first sub-project is Openmoko Linux
, a Linux
-based operating system
designed for mobile phones, built using free software
.
The second sub-project is developing hardware devices on which Openmoko Linux
runs. The first device released was the Neo 1973
, which was followed up by the Neo FreeRunner
on 25 June 2008. Unlike most other mobile phone platforms, these phones are designed to provide end users with the ability to modify the operating system and software stack. Other Openmoko-supported phones are also available.
On 2 April 2009, Openmoko canceled planned phones and will probably concentrate on other kinds of hardware, but will still support and sell the current Neo FreeRunner.
or Om. It uses the Linux kernel
, together with a graphical user environment built using the X.Org Server
. The OpenEmbedded
build framework and opkg
package system were used to create and maintain software packages
. The initial version named Om 2007 used the GTK+
toolkit and the Matchbox window manager
. Om 2008, which was released in August 2008, added support for the Qt
toolkit and Enlightenment
17. Despite continuous improvements both of these versions did not reach a stable state. As a result, Openmoko started developing Om 2009, which had the goal of providing a stable environment based on the middleware
from freesmartphone.org, a project that was financed by Openmoko. However, this version was not finished either, and in April 2009 Openmoko cancelled the development of software.
This task was taken over by a several efforts of the community. Several groups have created modified versions of the original software or ported
other systems to work on the phones. Among others, the Openmoko phones now support Android, Debian
, Gentoo
, Qt Extended Improved
, QtMoko, and SHR
.
Openmoko hardware aspires to the term open-source hardware although in various areas the availability of cell phone components and legal requirements prevent full conformance to this term.
As do many other vendors, Openmoko Inc., notoriously failed to meet the publicly announced hardware release dates, and postponed releases many times.
The first supported phone, the Neo 1973
GTA01 (version: Bv4), was distributed exclusively through openmoko.com from July 2007 to February 2008.
The second revision of hardware based on the GTA01 design is the Dash Express
, an automotive navigation system
. The Dash Express has a faster CPU (Samsung 2440) and Wi-Fi ability.
The third hardware platform, the Neo FreeRunner
codenamed GTA02 is an improved version of the Neo 1973.
(codenamed GTA01) phone was a "developers only" release.
This phone supports the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz GSM frequency bands. Many Linux and unix programs used on desktop
and server platforms, including utilities and games, have been successfully run on the phone. In addition to Linux, the NetBSD
, FreeBSD
and L4
kernels have been adapted by users to run on the platform or are under development.
This hardware platform can be emulated in software with a high level of compatibility using a version of Qemu
included in the Openmoko software suite
.
s and 3D graphics acceleration. It was released for the mass market on 25 June 2008.
. It would presumably differ from the Neo FreeRunner by having a 3.5 mm audio jack connector
(instead of a 2.5 mm connector), EDGE
and a camera. GTA03 would not include support for 3G
networks.
The fourth Openmoko planned, GTA04, would have been based on a different system-on-a-chip
. It would have had 3G
support.
as a basis for developing and prototyping a next generation Openmoko phone. The following month Golden Delicious stated their long term goal of bringing such a phone to market. A new board, under the GTA04 name of the defunct FIC
initiative with similar objectives, which fits into the Freerunner case and connects to the existing display and other components, is listed for preorder on the Golden Delicious website with a provisional shipping date of 5 February 2011.
, a device to read Wikipedia articles offline.
(FIC).
The Initial core team for Openmoko project included:
The codename for the phone product series, GTA, is an abbreviation of "GSM-TI-AGPS" which indicates the main components of the phone.
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
s, including the hardware specification and the operating system. The project was sponsored by Openmoko Inc.
The first sub-project is Openmoko Linux
Openmoko Linux
Openmoko Linux is an operating system for smartphones developed by the Openmoko project. It is based on the Ångström distribution, comprising various pieces of free software.The main targets of Openmoko Linux were the Openmoko Neo 1973 and the Neo FreeRunner...
, a Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
-based operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
designed for mobile phones, built using free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
.
The second sub-project is developing hardware devices on which Openmoko Linux
Openmoko Linux
Openmoko Linux is an operating system for smartphones developed by the Openmoko project. It is based on the Ångström distribution, comprising various pieces of free software.The main targets of Openmoko Linux were the Openmoko Neo 1973 and the Neo FreeRunner...
runs. The first device released was the Neo 1973
Neo 1973
The Neo 1973 is a smartphone developed by the Openmoko project to run the Openmoko Linux software platform. Furthermore other platforms have been ported to the Neo 1973, including Qt Extended, Debian and Android....
, which was followed up by the Neo FreeRunner
Neo FreeRunner
The Neo FreeRunner is an open source smartphone that is developed by the Openmoko project and manufactured by FIC...
on 25 June 2008. Unlike most other mobile phone platforms, these phones are designed to provide end users with the ability to modify the operating system and software stack. Other Openmoko-supported phones are also available.
On 2 April 2009, Openmoko canceled planned phones and will probably concentrate on other kinds of hardware, but will still support and sell the current Neo FreeRunner.
Software
Originally Openmoko Inc. developed its own operating system for the phones, which was called Openmoko LinuxOpenmoko Linux
Openmoko Linux is an operating system for smartphones developed by the Openmoko project. It is based on the Ångström distribution, comprising various pieces of free software.The main targets of Openmoko Linux were the Openmoko Neo 1973 and the Neo FreeRunner...
or Om. It uses the Linux kernel
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is an operating system kernel used by the Linux family of Unix-like operating systems. It is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software....
, together with a graphical user environment built using the X.Org Server
X.Org Server
X.Org Server refers to the X server release packages stewarded by the X.Org Foundation,which is hosted by freedesktop.org, and grants...
. The OpenEmbedded
OpenEmbedded
OpenEmbedded is a software framework to create Linux distributions aimed for, but not restricted to, embedded devices. The build system is based on BitBake recipes, which behave similar to Gentoo's ebuilds....
build framework and opkg
Opkg
Opkg is a lightweight package management system based upon the now defunct ipkg. It is written in C and resembles APT/dpkg in operation. It is intended for use on embedded Linux devices and is used in this capacity in the OpenEmbedded and OpenWrt projects....
package system were used to create and maintain software packages
Software package (installation)
In package management systems, which are commonly used with Linux-based operating systems, a package is a specific piece of software which the system can install and uninstall....
. The initial version named Om 2007 used the GTK+
GTK+
GTK+ is a cross-platform widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces. It is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, allowing both free and proprietary software to use it. It is one of the most popular toolkits for the X Window System, along with Qt.The name GTK+ originates from GTK;...
toolkit and the Matchbox window manager
Matchbox (window manager)
Matchbox is a free and open source window manager for the X Window System. It is mainly intended for embedded systems and differs from most other window managers in that it only shows one window at a time...
. Om 2008, which was released in August 2008, added support for the Qt
Qt (toolkit)
Qt is a cross-platform application framework that is widely used for developing application software with a graphical user interface , and also used for developing non-GUI programs such as command-line tools and consoles for servers...
toolkit and Enlightenment
Enlightenment (window manager)
Enlightenment, also known simply as E, is a stacking window manager for the X Window System which can be used alone or in conjunction with a desktop environment such as GNOME or KDE...
17. Despite continuous improvements both of these versions did not reach a stable state. As a result, Openmoko started developing Om 2009, which had the goal of providing a stable environment based on the middleware
Middleware
Middleware is computer software that connects software components or people and their applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact...
from freesmartphone.org, a project that was financed by Openmoko. However, this version was not finished either, and in April 2009 Openmoko cancelled the development of software.
This task was taken over by a several efforts of the community. Several groups have created modified versions of the original software or ported
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
other systems to work on the phones. Among others, the Openmoko phones now support Android, Debian
Debian
Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...
, Gentoo
Gentoo Linux
Gentoo Linux is a computer operating system built on top of the Linux kernel and based on the Portage package management system. It is distributed as free and open source software. Unlike a conventional software distribution, the user compiles the source code locally according to their chosen...
, Qt Extended Improved
Qt Extended Improved
Qt Extended Improved is an application platform for Embedded Linux-based mobile computing devices such as personal digital assistants, projectors and mobile phones....
, QtMoko, and SHR
SHR (operating system)
SHR is a community-driven Linux distribution for smartphones which is based on OpenEmbedded and the framework. Several different graphical toolkits are made available, such as GTK+, Qt and more.-System requirements:...
.
Hardware
As do many other vendors, Openmoko Inc., notoriously failed to meet the publicly announced hardware release dates, and postponed releases many times.
The first supported phone, the Neo 1973
Neo 1973
The Neo 1973 is a smartphone developed by the Openmoko project to run the Openmoko Linux software platform. Furthermore other platforms have been ported to the Neo 1973, including Qt Extended, Debian and Android....
GTA01 (version: Bv4), was distributed exclusively through openmoko.com from July 2007 to February 2008.
The second revision of hardware based on the GTA01 design is the Dash Express
Dash Express
The Dash Express is an Internet-enabled personal navigation device manufactured by Dash Navigation Dash is different from other navigation devices because it transmits information using a GPRS connection back to Dash, which enhances traffic routing...
, an automotive navigation system
Automotive navigation system
An automotive navigation system is a satellite navigation system designed for use in automobiles. It typically uses a GPS navigation device to acquire position data to locate the user on a road in the unit's map database. Using the road database, the unit can give directions to other locations...
. The Dash Express has a faster CPU (Samsung 2440) and Wi-Fi ability.
The third hardware platform, the Neo FreeRunner
Neo FreeRunner
The Neo FreeRunner is an open source smartphone that is developed by the Openmoko project and manufactured by FIC...
codenamed GTA02 is an improved version of the Neo 1973.
Neo 1973
The Neo 1973Neo 1973
The Neo 1973 is a smartphone developed by the Openmoko project to run the Openmoko Linux software platform. Furthermore other platforms have been ported to the Neo 1973, including Qt Extended, Debian and Android....
(codenamed GTA01) phone was a "developers only" release.
This phone supports the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz GSM frequency bands. Many Linux and unix programs used on desktop
Desktop computer
A desktop computer is a personal computer in a form intended for regular use at a single location, as opposed to a mobile laptop or portable computer. Early desktop computers are designed to lay flat on the desk, while modern towers stand upright...
and server platforms, including utilities and games, have been successfully run on the phone. In addition to Linux, the NetBSD
NetBSD
NetBSD is a freely available open source version of the Berkeley Software Distribution Unix operating system. It was the second open source BSD descendant to be formally released, after 386BSD, and continues to be actively developed. The NetBSD project is primarily focused on high quality design,...
, FreeBSD
FreeBSD
FreeBSD is a free Unix-like operating system descended from AT&T UNIX via BSD UNIX. Although for legal reasons FreeBSD cannot be called “UNIX”, as the direct descendant of BSD UNIX , FreeBSD’s internals and system APIs are UNIX-compliant...
and L4
L4 microkernel family
L4 is a family of second-generation microkernels, generally used to implement Unix-like operating systems, but also used in a variety of other systems.L4 was a response to the poor performance of earlier microkernel-base operating systems...
kernels have been adapted by users to run on the platform or are under development.
This hardware platform can be emulated in software with a high level of compatibility using a version of Qemu
QEMU
QEMU is a processor emulator that relies on dynamic binary translation to achieve a reasonable speed while being easy to port on new host CPU architectures....
included in the Openmoko software suite
Openmoko Linux
Openmoko Linux is an operating system for smartphones developed by the Openmoko project. It is based on the Ångström distribution, comprising various pieces of free software.The main targets of Openmoko Linux were the Openmoko Neo 1973 and the Neo FreeRunner...
.
Neo FreeRunner
The Neo FreeRunner (codenamed GTA02) is the new revision of the Neo 1973. The changes include a faster processor (clocked at 400 MHz), 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, two accelerometerAccelerometer
An accelerometer is a device that measures proper acceleration, also called the four-acceleration. This is not necessarily the same as the coordinate acceleration , but is rather the type of acceleration associated with the phenomenon of weight experienced by a test mass that resides in the frame...
s and 3D graphics acceleration. It was released for the mass market on 25 June 2008.
Dash Express
On 2 January 2008 the Dash Express, a GPS device, with hardware developed by Openmoko Inc. was announced running Openmoko Linux. This device, initially codenamed the HXD8, seems to use little or none of the openmoko user-interface, simply using patches to the kernel developed by Openmoko Inc, and running an application from Dash Navigation on it to provide navigation and a user interface.Canceled devices
The next phone, GTA03, would have been based on newer and more powerful system-on-a-chipSystem-on-a-chip
A system on a chip or system on chip is an integrated circuit that integrates all components of a computer or other electronic system into a single chip. It may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio-frequency functions—all on a single chip substrate...
. It would presumably differ from the Neo FreeRunner by having a 3.5 mm audio jack connector
TRS connector
A TRS connector is a common family of connector typically used for analog signals including audio. It is cylindrical in shape, typically with three contacts, although sometimes with two or four . It is also called an audio jack, phone jack, phone plug, and jack plug...
(instead of a 2.5 mm connector), EDGE
Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution
Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution is a digital mobile phone technology that allows improved data transmission rates as a backward-compatible extension of GSM...
and a camera. GTA03 would not include support for 3G
3G
3G or 3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union...
networks.
The fourth Openmoko planned, GTA04, would have been based on a different system-on-a-chip
System-on-a-chip
A system on a chip or system on chip is an integrated circuit that integrates all components of a computer or other electronic system into a single chip. It may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio-frequency functions—all on a single chip substrate...
. It would have had 3G
3G
3G or 3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union...
support.
Golden Delicious GTA04 Board
Golden Delicious GmbH of Munich, a mobile office solutions provider and vendor of upgraded Freerunners, announced in September 2010 the release of the Openmoko Beagle Hybrid, a platform using the Beagle BoardBeagle Board
The BeagleBoard is a low-power, low-cost open source hardware single-board computer produced by Texas Instruments in association with Digi-Key. The BeagleBoard was also designed with open source software development in mind, and as a way of demonstrating the Texas Instrument's OMAP3530...
as a basis for developing and prototyping a next generation Openmoko phone. The following month Golden Delicious stated their long term goal of bringing such a phone to market. A new board, under the GTA04 name of the defunct FIC
First International Computer
First International Computer, Inc. is a Taiwanese computer and components manufacturer, that designs and manufactures computer products and electronic components for other electronics equipment manufacturers worldwide. The company's products include motherboards, embedded computing systems,...
initiative with similar objectives, which fits into the Freerunner case and connects to the existing display and other components, is listed for preorder on the Golden Delicious website with a provisional shipping date of 5 February 2011.
WikiReader
The latest product is the WikiReaderWikiReader
WikiReader is a project to deliver an offline, text-only version of Wikipedia on a mobile device. The project is sponsored by Openmoko and its source code has been released....
, a device to read Wikipedia articles offline.
History
Openmoko was announced the 7th November 2006 by its founders First International ComputerFirst International Computer
First International Computer, Inc. is a Taiwanese computer and components manufacturer, that designs and manufactures computer products and electronic components for other electronics equipment manufacturers worldwide. The company's products include motherboards, embedded computing systems,...
(FIC).
The Initial core team for Openmoko project included:
- Werner Almesberger
- Michael Lauer
- Sean Moss-Pultz
- Harald WelteHarald WelteHarald Welte is a programmer resident in Berlin, Germany. Within the free software community, Welte is well known as a hacker of the Linux kernel and for his activities in enforcing the GNU General Public License , the license that governs the use of much of free software.Welte is also involved in...
Etymology
The name Openmoko is an initialism for Open Mobile Kommunikations. The company was named OpenMoko until early 2008 when it was renamed Openmoko.The codename for the phone product series, GTA, is an abbreviation of "GSM-TI-AGPS" which indicates the main components of the phone.
See also
- Android (operating system)
- Comparison of open source software hosting facilities
- LiMo FoundationLiMo FoundationThe LiMo Foundation is an non-profit technology consortium organization dedicated to creating the first truly open, hardware-independent, Linux-based mobile operating system for smartphone mobile devices...
- Linux Phone Standards ForumLinux Phone Standards ForumThe Linux Phone Standards Forum is a consortium of a group of companies to create standards for the use of Linux on mobile devices. The main goal of the LiPS Forum is to create application programming interfaces that will allow developers to build applications to inter-operate across Linux...
- MaemoMaemoMaemo is a software platform developed by the Maemo community for smartphones and Internet tablets. It is based on the Debian Linux distribution, but has no relation to it...
- MobilinuxMobilinuxMobilinux is a distribution of the Linux operating system, targeted to smartphones. It was announced by MontaVista Software on April 25, 2005.Mobilinux is based on open source and open standard technology, designed for scalability and maximized battery power usage for single-chip mobile phones...
- Open Handset AllianceOpen Handset AllianceThe Open Handset Alliance is a consortium of 84 firms to develop open standards for mobile devices. Member firms include Google, HTC, Sony, Dell, Intel, Motorola, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, T-Mobile, Nvidia, and Wind River Systems.-History:The OHA was...
- Open Mobile AllianceOpen Mobile AllianceThe Open Mobile Alliance is a standards body which develops open standards for the mobile phone industry.- Principles :Mission: To provide interoperable service enablers working across countries, operators and mobile terminals....
- OpenBTSOpenBTSOpenBTS is a software-based GSM access point, allowing standard GSM-compatible mobile phones to make telephone calls without using existing telecommunication providers' networks...
- SHR (Stable Hybrid Release)
- Qt Extended
- TuxPhoneTuxPhoneThe TuxPhone is a mobile phone which runs on free and open-source software, and is currently in the prototype stage. The goal of the project is to develop a phone that anyone with basic soldering equipment can construct, with support from the free and open source software community for downloads,...
External links
- Development portal
- Neo Freerunner 3D model, click and drag to rotate
- LWN.net: A first look at the OpenMoko Neo1973, August 2007
- [irc://irc.freenode.net/openmoko #openmoko] on freenodeFreenodefreenode, formerly known as Open Projects Network, is an IRC network used to discuss peer-directed projects. Their servers are all accessible from the domain name [irc://chat.freenode.net chat.freenode.net], which load balances connections by using the actual servers in rotation...