Opening the Mobile World
The Neo 1973 from OpenMoko is a phone that is not only using Linux as its operating system, but embracing freedom at every level. The development of the phone itself is open to the wider community, with development versions of the phone available now. With GSM, GPRS, GPS, Touch Sensitive screen and WiFi, all open to use by developers this phone platform looks like it has a solid future.
could have a bigger than average impact
It's possible I'm over-reacting a little but this has the potential to tip over some real changes.
It's the first time a large group of developers will have truly unfettered access to a usable cell phone platform. The fact that it'll have pretty well every key mobile peripheral (GPS, cell voice/data, 802.11, screen, mic, speaker, usb (device and master)) and that the price isn't insane means that all we'll need now is about 10 minutes til some clever person writes something completely new and wonderful but obvious in hindsight that wasn't possible on a closed platform.
Nice
I want one. Or two. I can see a real opportunity to sell phone firmware or widgets in the future, ones that work in a far more integrated way than the current java ones.