Openmoko starts Shipping Neo FreeRunner Open Source Mobile Phone

Openmoko Neo FreeRunner Openmoko, a manufacture of open source mobile phone, has announced that they have shipped their latest Linux-based handset to five major distributors to target broader audience. Named Neo FreeRunner, the phone has been shipped to Pulster, Golden Delicious Computers and TRIsoft located in Germany, Bearstech in France and IDA Systems based in India.

After the success of Neo 1973, Openmoko had launched the new mobile phone that would either run on the 850 MHz or 900 MHz version to support telecommunications frequencies across the globe. The Linux-enabled Neo FreeRunner is effective with the Open Source community that enhances the phone’s software functionality. It is compatible with vertical markets that includes academic, travel, science, and medicine.

Consumers have the freedom to download the compliant software onto the phone from the Openmoko developer site.

Elaborating on the latest release, Steve Mosher, Openmoko vice president of marketing, had to say, “We have moved beyond the early adopter stage and are now ready to release the next generation Neo Freerunner to markets where we are seeing early traction. These key distributors have relationships that reach deeply into markets that can leverage the features of this remarkable mobile device and advance it even further through software and exterior customization.”

The touchscreen Neo FreeRunner phone sports a 2.8-inch (480×640 pixel) VGA display, an in-built GPS, Bluetooth, 128MB RAM, a 400MHz processor, USB connectivity, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, two 3D accelerometers and SD-card slot.

Priced at $399 (approx. Rs. 17,075), the Openmoko Neo Freerunner touchscreen phone is expected to be available on the company’s official website as well as through distributors in Europe and India.