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Motorola A768 Phone Loaded With Open Source
Supp0rtLinux writes "According to this article over at Linux Devices and noted on here at NewsForge.com, Motorola has released a newer version of its A76x line of cellular phones. This newest release, the A768, boasts of open source softwares from Monta Vista Linux, Trolltech, and Sleepycat. The only downside is that it appears to only be available in China right now. And the older A760 released last August is still only available in Europe and Asia. Why are we in the U.S. always the last to get new cellular toys? The good news, though, is that with a Linux base and an integrated PDA and MS Office file compatibility, at least syncing this to either a Linux system or a Windows one should be fairly seamless. (A760 Review)"
Although this device might be using "Open Source" software the actual software in the device isn't open. No doubt they obtained commercial licenses from Sleepycat and others so that they could get around having to release their software. Which is a pity because it makes customizing the thing so much harder.
John.
Actually, many European countries have a FAR more modern POTS system than the US. Technically, that is. So, don't get me started on how persons are charged in the US for RECEIVING phone calls.
I'm not really sure what you're talking about. When I lived in London my phone worked fine all the time (which is all I expect a POTS line to do), and was cheaper than my line here in NYC, which didn't work when I first got it and has failed again in the 4 months I've had it. So what exactly makes a landline "crappy"?
---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"
Yeah, right.
In San Francisco, a wealthy tech-savvy city, my Sprint PCS phone drops network randomly as I walk through the financial district. In Noe Valley I have four antennas on one side of the $tarbucks and zero on the other side of it.
In Budapest, an up-and-coming (and much larger) yet by no means wealthy Central European city, the only time I ever lose connectivity above ground is for 20 minutes after midnight on New Year's.
Face it, the US cellphone infrastructure is many, many years behind Europe's in terms of reliability and signal quality (and IMHO revenue concept).
As for the reliability of the handsets themselves, you may have a point - or you may not, since your point contradicts US behavior in other tech markets (PDAs spring to mind).
This Like That - fun with words!
The USA isn't big on advanced cells. Not like Europe or Asia.
None of the advanced features US providers are dreaming about will happen until we see a whole lot more flat-rate action. Americans simply will not pay what Asians and Europeans are willing to for stuff like GPRS, SMS/MMS, etc. LTIC most European plans are still per-minute with per-message charges in SMS and per-KB data transfer charges. No all-you-can-eat plans.
I can guarantee you that 'cellular data' will go nowhere until it's available flat-rate all-you-can-eat. Same goes for MMS, location-based services, etc. Americans just want flat-rate and are willing to wait for it. This may be happening with Sprint and ATT, but I believe all-you-can-eat data, sms/mms and local voice needs to be $50/mo for it to take off.
Ergo, those phones which enable those services will not be as appealing: why pay extra for something that is not affordable to use?
And it seems to be something the wireless companies need to learn over and over and over again.