[sf-lug] Finally Frickin' Freedom Fone

[Asheesh Laroia]

There will be OpenMoko phones available for sale July 9, finally, 
according to the head of the project.  More information at 
http://lists.openmoko.org/pipermail/community/2007-June/006005.html .

July 9's version won't have wifi but will cost a "measly" $300; the full 
wifi'd and accelerometer and 3D-accelerated edition in October will cost 
$450.  People do tell me that it's more important to buy a data plan on 
the cell network than to have wifi even if your phone has wifi because the 
cell network is always there for you.

I've been waiting for this since I heard about the project in January. 
It's like the Trolltech Greenphone, only actually interesting.  GSM only 
(in the US, that means T-Mobile or Cingular/AT&T/NSA); Verizon users need 
not apply.  I just switched to T-Mobile in preparation for this (if the 
other choice is funding a secret NSA eavesdropping lab, it's not really a 
choice at all).

I, for one, plan to enjoy this beautiful, liberated, liberating 
convergence device as a music player, mobile telephone, personal digital 
assistant, and so on.  And regardless I'll see you all soon - I'm arriving 
to SF in about two weeks.

-- Asheesh.

-- 
So this is what it feels like to be potato salad