Launch of OSS For Mobile Phones

Linux Mobile Phone Guy writes "Members of the open source GPE project (GPE Palmtop Environment) today announced a new offspring project to create a fully open source software stack for mobile phones, GPE Phone Edition. GPE Phone Edition is a fully open source project based on developments from the GPE project adding necessary components for mobile phone usage. Based on standards defined by the LiPS Forum a complete application software stack is built. The current implementation is based on code contributed to the LiPS Forum by Orange/France Telecom's research and development lab located in Beijing China in collaboration with GPE project members. The result is now an open sourced software stack which can handle a GSM compliant mobile modem for making voice calls, handling the SIM address book and sending and receiving SMS. Also some additional application exists e.g. for media playback, instant messaging and email. They have some screenshots there and even a downloadable VMware image using which you can try the whole thing in a virtual phone on your PC — if you connect a GSM Modem (like an existing phone) to /dev/GSM-Modem you should probably even be able to use the full phone functionality (access SIM card, send/receive SMS, make a call!)."

Comments

How does this differ from Greenphone?

[kalpaha]

Greenphone from Trolltech already has a development device available, although it is a bit pricey for common usage ($695 USD). Does anyone have any information about the differences in the project?

Coming Soon

[RAMMS EIN]

Coming soon: software to turn a bunch of mobile phones into a Beowulf cluster.

Virtual Phone

[mgiuca]

Being able to run a virtual phone on a PC is what entices me. It means anyone can sit at home and play around, write software, etc, even without owning a phone. While this is all "for fun", by the time these phones become cheap and accessible there will be a mass of kids who already have the expertise to use and program these devices.

I'll definately check this out on my PC.

Re:Which supported phones

[Simon80]

I don't blame you for mincing words, but OpenMoko is an alternative software stack for mobile phones, similar to this one. You meant to mention the Neo1973, which is the phone that OpenMoko's initially going to run on.

Re:Nothing new.

[Aladrin]

I think you totally missed the point here. While the ability to use the virtual phone while it's hooked a real phone is neat, but real benefit comes from being able to create and test phone applications with real connectivity, and without taking a chance on destroying a real phone.

I must say, though, the idea of hooking asterisk to a real cellphone for calls like this is intriguing already.

Also, for those looking for a mirror, These finally loaded:

http://gpe.linuxtogo.org.nyud.net:8080/

http://gpephone.linuxtogo.org.nyud.net:8080/

similar projects

[g2ek]

The LiMo Foundation
OpenMoko
The GreenPhone

vmware

[smoker2]

If anybody can actually find this mythical vmware image can you post a link please.

That's nice, but...

[gidds]

Who thinks that any service provider will allow an uncertified software stack onto any of their handsets, and/or onto their network?

This isn't like getting a PC onto the internet, where any software can be installed and anything that talks TCP/IP can connect. Like it or not (and I don't), many of the more recent phones, music players, etc. are not open platforms in that sense. And the service providers are more than a tad concerned about keeping control of what connects to their networks. (I don't know whether their worries are about a compromised device crashing the network, introducing some unreliability, or just bypassing one of their many ways to profit from every byte that gets transferred.)

Do we have any reason to think that this stack will be treated any differently?