[lug] cell phones with linux

[Ben Burdette]

siegfried wrote:
> What are the ramifications of having a linux cell phone? Does it mean that
> (1) You have all the source code to the cell phone?
>   
For the openmoko, yes.  For almost all other linux cellphones, no.  For 
most linux phones, the linux OS itself is available, but the GUI code, 
device drivers, etc are definitely closed.
> (2) You can alter and recompile any/all the source code and redeploy it to
> your phone without permission of the manufacturer? (I heard stories about
> how nokia/brew developers have to have special permission from nokia to
> develop applications).
>   
For openmoko you can do what you want.  There are at least 4 different 
flavors of OS/GUI available to install at present.  For most other linux 
phones I think you are pretty much locked out.

> (3) You can subvert the pricing structure where the carrier charges double
> or triple for data transfers (compared to voice) and develop wireless
> embedded applications that transmit their status every 15 minutes.phone cards.  
The answer here is maybe.  I think carriers might be a little sloppy 
with network enforcement because most cellphones are crippled and unable 
to take advantage of the network like a real computer could.  For 
instance, on the openmoko wiki it says that TMobile doesn't offer data 
plans on its pre-pay sims.  However, by manually configuring GPRS it is 
possible to get data access anyway. 

http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Carriers/TMobile

> (4) If the answer to #3 is yes, will linux cell phone become a favorite of
> terrorists?
>   
If by terrorists you mean technologically capable users then yes. 

> Thanks!
> Siegfried
>
>