Linux Cellphone for Kids

Dan Shapiro writes "Wildseed has shipped the Identity cellphone, manfuactured by Curitel. It runs a Linux 2.4.19 kernel, has serial and USB 1.1 connectors, and includes busybox--although there's no way of getting to a terminal prompt, yet. The phone doesn't show its Linux roots; it's actually designed for teens. It has unusual features like Airtext and SmartSkins, which look like a cross between a faceplate, a Nintendo cartridge, and a Winamp skin. Cellular One and Tiger Direct got them first."

Comments

And does it support...

[ForestGrump]

Linux? No we established that already.

But what network does it support? humm? Cellular one page is pointless, the TigerDirect page says GPRS as the only protocol it supports. So i'm guessing it is GSM, doesn't tell me sqwat about which bands tho.

Oh, and the sticker price is 400 clams. Kinda steep if you compare it to "free with 2 year contract"

Grump

Re:And does it support...

[Anonymous Coward]

It's a dual-band GSM/GPRS handset (850/1900). Because it isn't locked, it will work on any U.S. GSM network (e.g. AT&T/Cingular, T-Mobile, CellularOne, etc.)

Other specs:

- GPRS Class 10
- 16MB RAM, 48MB Flash
- USB 1.1 client
- Stereo FM tuner
- WAP 2.0 browwser
- 640x480 camera
- Tons of lights!

oh, and did I mention

- It runs LINUX! :)

I like it

[tsa]

The design is nice, and I also like this 'AirText' feature. The only problems with it I have are:
- I couldn't find the microphone anywhere
- You have to hold the keyboard to your ear. Does it lock the keyboard while you make a call? O well, I guess they have thought about that. Anyways I think it's a great design!

Re:I like it

[Anonymous Coward]

I've played with the production version of this device, and the microphone is in the usual place at the bottom, and works just like you'd expect from a good cell phone.

The keys don't lock while you're on a call (you couldn't dial your voice mail password if they did). However, when I cradled it between my ear and shoulder, no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get my ear to dial spurious digits on the keypad. :)

The Airtext feature is particularly fun in bars...

GSM/GPRS - SprintPCS woes

[numbski]

I must enjoy abuse. I keep renewing my account with SprintPCS. I've been with them since 98, and overall they've treated me pretty well, but make the smallest change to my account and they require me to renew my contract for 2 years. It's been about six months, but that means another 18 months with my current billing plan before I can port my number to another provider and take advantage of a phone like this.

If it has a reasonable ssh client, then I'm all over it. :) mobile IM's never been so good.

Not that I need IM. Just being able to log into my iMac and reaad e-mail would make me happy. Or a decent Java imap client that supports either subscriptions or a base mail directory. None out there seem to do this yet. :(

Start 'em young.

[deemaunik]

I wish there was something like this around when I was young, and my first OS would have been Linux. Would have saved me alot of time in learning an OS I've grown to despise over the years. Kudos.

Re:Start 'em young.

[wed128]

The phone runs linux on the back end, and will be unnoticable to the end user. The only kids to notice this will be the geeks that will discover alternative os'es some day anyway.

Re:Start 'em young.

[MentalMooMan]

Still not quite young enough - I am 13 and I started using linux about a year ago. I really really wish I didn't start off on windows now.My computer works for me now, I don't work for my computer.

Phone Stats are found here:

[PhreeStyle]

http://www.curitel.com/english/Product/gsm/GA-400B .asp

yehaaaaa

[crank_06]

yehaa!

slowly, very slowly, the enlightment starts to get the people, and more and more people start thinking by themselves!

Design

[lachlan76]

Nice try, but that phone has the most horrifying design I've ever seen.

Seriously, my hand would cover the screen.