OpenMoko Announces the World's First Integrated Open Source Mobile Communications Platform at Open Source in Mobile Conference in Amsterdam.Open Mobile Communications Development Platform and Phones Will Create Explosive Growth of Mobile Applications to Rival the Diversity and Size of the Massive Ringtone The audible sound made by a telephone to announce that a call is coming in. The traditional ringtone was in the 440-480 Hz range, but as cellphone usage grew, it became obvious that ringtone differentiation would become important. Market and Foster New Income Models for Carriers AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- OpenMoko today announced the immediate availability of a completely integrated open source mobile communications platform in partnership with FIC FIC First International Computer FIC Fogarty International Center (John E. Fogarty International Center for Advanced Study in the Health Sciences; National Institutes of Health) FIC Fellowship for Intentional Community , a world leader in motherboards, graphics cards, mobile solutions, and electronic devices. The announcement of the OpenMoko mobile communications platform coincides with the unveiling of FIC's Neo1973 smartphone, which utilizes the full OpenMoko platform and will be available in January 2007. Until now, mobile platforms have been proprietary and scattered. With the release of OpenMoko, which is based on the latest Linux open source efforts, developers now have an easy way to create applications and deliver services that span all users and provide a common "look and feel". OpenMoko also offers common storage models and libraries for application developers, making writing applications for mobile phones fun and easy while guaranteeing swift proliferation proliferation /pro·lif·er·a·tion/ (pro-lif?er-a´shun) the reproduction or multiplication of similar forms, especially of cells.prolif´erativeprolif´erous pro·lif·er·a·tion n. of a wide range of applications for mobile phones. With such extremely high quality open frameworks, developers will be armed with exactly the tools they need to revolutionize rev·o·lu·tion·ize tr.v. rev·o·lu·tion·ized, rev·o·lu·tion·iz·ing, rev·o·lu·tion·iz·es 1. To bring about a radical change in: Television has revolutionized news coverage. 2. the mobile industry. "For the first time, the mobile ecosystem will be as open as the PC, and mobile applications equally as diverse and more easily accessible," said Sean Moss-Pultz, architect of OpenMoko and Product Manager of FIC's Mobile Communication Business Unit. "Ringtones are already a multi-billion dollar market. We think downloading mobile applications on an open platform will be even bigger." "Open platform standardization standardization In industry, the development and application of standards that make it possible to manufacture a large volume of interchangeable parts. Standardization may focus on engineering standards, such as properties of materials, fits and tolerances, and drafting will kick-start an entire ecosystem of mobile phone developers," stated Dr. Ming J. Chien, Chairman of FIC. "I'm excited because I believe carriers will see an increase in revenues from new data traffic. And being able to customize your mobile phone in any way you see fit should be very appealing to end-users." Fundamental to OpenMoko's goal of increasing data traffic and effortless mobile application delivery is a software manager that makes it trivial to add, remove, and update applications. These applications will be available through feeds including "OpenMoko Certified" as well as other commercial and community sources. The OpenMoko platform is based on OpenEmbedded. "This gives end-users access to literally thousands of existing open source applications from the OpenZaurus, Familiar Linux Familiar Linux is a Linux distribution for iPAQ machines and other personal digital assistants (PDAs), intended as a replacement for Windows CE on these machines. It can use OPIE or GPE Palmtop Environment as graphical user interface. , and EangstrEm projects as well as many other open source efforts," explained Michael Lauer, a founder of the OpenEmbedded project and early OpenMoko developer. "The ease of application development, and the wealth of open source applications, combined with a repository of OpenMoko smartphone applications specifically designed for OpenMoko, ensure that this is one platform ready to change an industry," said David Huang, COO of FIC. "While OpenMoko may revolutionize development in mobile communications, it also respects and works with existing infrastructure, and such core data objects as email, contacts, and calendars." OpenMoko has partnered with mobile open source software company, Funambol, to provide full push email and PIM (1) (Protocol Independent Multicast) A multicast routing protocol endorsed by the IETF. Used in conjunction with an existing unicast routing protocol, it comes in two flavors: Dense Mode (PIM-DM) is used when recipients in the target group are in a concentrated synchronization (1) See synchronous and synchronous transmission. (2) Ensuring that two sets of data are always the same. See data synchronization. (3) Keeping time-of-day clocks in two devices set to the same time. See NTP. support to all applications running on the OpenMoko platform. Connecting to corporate messaging and collaboration servers will be as transparent as sending a SMS (1) (Storage Management System) Software used to routinely back up and archive files. See HSM. (2) (Systems Management Server) Systems management software from Microsoft that runs on Windows NT Server. and installing a new application will be possible from virtually anywhere. With OpenMoko and Funambol, mobile phones will stay in sync with their environment while automatically update themselves as new features are added and bugs are fixed. First International Computer (FIC) announced that OpenMoko is the platform of choice for their next generation smartphones. Joining OpenMoko at the Open Source in Mobile Conference in Amsterdam, FIC announced that their latest smartphone, called the "Neo1973," will be the first commercially available smartphone powered by OpenMoko. Key features of the Neo1973 smartphone include: * 2.8" VGA (Video Graphics Array) The display standard for the PC. All PC display adapters support VGA, and Windows machines boot up in "VGA mode" before switching to higher resolutions. touch screen * A-GPS A-GPS Assisted Global Positioning System (used in mobile communications as a positioning system) for location and navigation services * GSM850/900/1800/1900 compatibility for network support in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Africa and the US * Application manager to install / remove / update applications * Push email, contacts, and calendar synchronization * OpenMoko Software Development Kit (SDK (Software Developer's Kit) See developer's toolkit and Windows SDK. SDK - Software Developers Kit (or "Software Development Kit"). ) for application development The Neo1973 smartphone, along with OpenMoko, will be internationally available January 2007. More information on features, specifications, availability and other details can be found at www.openmoko.com About FIC Founded in 1980, First International Computer, Inc (FIC) is a world leader in the design and production of computer motherboards, graphics cards, PC systems, notebooks, mobile solutions, and other electronic devices. Publicly listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSEC) Established in 1961, the only centralized securities market in Taiwan. (TSE See Tokyo Stock Exchange. TSE 1. See Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). 2. See Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE). 3701), FIC has a workforce of over 5000 employees spread amongst six supplier hubs, ten manufacturing/assembly sites and seven branch offices. As an OEM/ODM supplier to many of the leading brands in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , Asia, and Europe, FIC has established itself as a pioneer of innovative products, supplying engineering expertise, advanced R&D, and logistical services throughout the world. For the latest information on FIC products and services visit www.fic.com.tw. About OpenMoko OpenMoko is the commercial and community driven effort with a mission to create an open platform that empowers people to customize their phone, much like a computer, in any way they see fit. OpenMoko is an open source mobile communications movement on a mission to create a platform that empowers people to customize their phone, much like a computer, in any way they see fit. It is a platform that focuses on innovation, usability, reliability, and quality. OpenMoko's heart lies deep into the components and resources of the Open Source and Free Software Movements. Moko For the form of Māori tattooing, see . For the bronze drum found in Indonesia, see . For the smart phone project, see . In the mythology of Mangaia in the Cook Islands, Moko is a wily character and grandfather of the heroic Ngaru. (Gill 1876:234). is short for Mobile Kommunikations. 'K' is a tribute to all hackers around the world that build software that drives innovation into the platform. Open means that developers around the world can evolve the platform in anyway they like. For the latest information on OpenMoko visit www.openmoko.com. Editors: Images of OpenMoko and the FIC Neo1973 smartphone can be downloaded from www.openmoko.com/press |
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