For a little background, can you describe the general topic of your presentation and tell us what is new in the last few months?
OpenMoko is the GNU/Linux distribution running on FIC's Neo1973 smartphone. The newest info is that the Neo1973-phone with wifi (also known as the second generation) will be released to developers before Christmas. Currently a small run of phones is being tested for bugs. If no bugs are found you only have to call yourself developer to be able to buy the phone - and hopefully have the phone before Christmas.
Can you give a summary of what you will present? Why should someone choose to come to your presentation?
I will try to pass the enthusiasm and creativity I felt when I first joined the OpenMoko community. The presentation will be on why this is such a revolution and how you can take part in it. You should definitely go to this presentation if you are not satisfied with your mobile phone or if you feel you current mobile phone lacks some software features.
How did you get involved in Free Software and in what way is it important to you?
I first saw free software in 1991 at the University of Aarhus and as a student I quickly discovered the free as in free beer when copying and using the software. Only later did I discover the free as in freedom. In 1996 I joined my LUG (SSLUG), and became active giving back to the community. From then I was very reluctant to install non-free software on my computer. And if I did, I often later regretted by having the system break when other elements were upgraded.
Free software is important to me because I can:
* F orward copies to anyone
* R un the program
* E xamine the source code
* E nhance the source code
Are there any parts of OpenMoko that are not Free Software?
The short answer is no, everything is Free Software. For the comming phone (with the internal name GTA02) all the software that runs on the general CPU is free software. But the phone also has some devices such as the GPS-device and GSM-device. It is known that the GSM-device internally runs software that is proprietary and not easily upgraded by the user. The GPS-device may do the same. However, if you regard these devices as black boxes that have a well defined interface (just like a firmware upgradable modem in the 1990's), then there is no non-free software. For the current phone (with the internal name GTA01Bv4) the GPS-daemon (which is run by the general CPU) is not free.
When will we see a 100% free phone, all the way from hardware to software?
For me a 100% free phone (both hardware and software) would mean that I can change the GSM-radio, too. However, getting the GSM-radio approved for use would require making it impossible for the enduser to change the GSM-radio. So regulations makes it hard to make a 100% free phone. I would expect to see a 100% free personal computer (incl. hardware with radios such as bluetooth and WiFi) being commercially successful before we will see a 100% free phone. For most purposes, however, it will be sufficient having a phone with fully documented interfaces for the hardware.
Why is it important to have a free mobile phone?
Being able to update the software on the phone is important, as this can help fix bugs and give new functionality that was not envisioned when the phone was created. Being able to develop and install the software yourself means that you can be the person that makes this new functionality without depending on the supplier.
Can you synchronize Openmoko with your desktop applications?
OpenMoko is still under development and not ready for normal users yet. It is, however, planned to use open standards whenever possible, so expect this to work when the phone goes on sale to non-developers.
Is there any other particular presentation you'll be going to? Why is that topic of interest?
At the local business organisation for free software I was volunteered for looking into getting more free software into schools, so I expect to get some hint at the talk on SkoleLinux. I will be going to the Green Phone talk. There is a lot of potential to be gained by joining the forces of OpenMoko and Green Phone. Together I will expect us to set the defacto standard for running GNU/Linux on a phone.
Contact: ole@tange.dk
Links: Ole Tange
Back to Interviews
