The Neo 1973, the first phone to use the open-source, Linux-based OpenMoko mobile operating system, has techies abuzz in anticipation of its October consumer release.
Though the phone's large, touch-screen display might evoke comparisons with the iPhone, OpenMoko's approach to software is the exact opposite of Apple's. Apple doesn't allow third-party software to run on the iPhone (Web 2.0 sites notwithstanding), ostensibly to maintain the company's hallmark smooth and controlled user experience.
In contrast, OpenMoko's success may largely depend on whether the open-source community gets involved in writing new programs or inducing some of the multitude of existing Linux programs to work under OpenMoko.
The Neo 1973 is available now for $300 as an early, not-fully-functional developer release for hackers eager to see what they can make it do. When it ships in the fall for an expected $450, it will come unlocked rather than through a particular carrier, so you can choose your own cell phone company (with a GSM network) and plan.
The phone sports a 2.8-inch touch-screen display that works with finger taps or a stylus (though it does not match the iPhone's multitouch capabilities). It uses the GSM cell network and the unfortunately slow GPRS data network. It has built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, and supports microSD memory cards. (A full list of the specs appears at the end of this story. To compare the OpenMoko specs with those of the iPhone and five competing handsets, see our handy chart.)