OpenMoko unveils Neo FreeRunner mobile

The OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner is expected in early July

The OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner Linux-based mobile phone will begin shipping to distributors today, its developers have announced.

The open source mobile phone will be available from the OpenMoko website, and from distributors in the UK, Germany, France and India at a recommended price of $399.

Several new features have been added to the original Openmoko Neo 1973 handset that the organisation began offering to developers last year.

The tri-band GSM phone includes Wi-Fi, a faster 400Mhz CPU, 256MB of internal Flash memory, two 3D accelerometers, a graphics accelerator chip and powered USB host support.

The phone carries a 2.8in VGA-resolution touch screen, GPS, Bluetooth and a Flash memory card slot. The phone can be charged via its USB socket.

"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," said Steve Mosher, vice president of marketing at Openmoko.

"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 customisation."

The Openmoko project was instigated by Taiwanese manufacturer First International Computer which manufactures the hardware.

Most of the phone's software is open source - the GSM module is among the exceptions to this - but chip vendors have not made documentation available for some components.

First International Computer has also released parts of the hardware design, such as the case and chassis CAD files.

UK distributor Truebox is offering the phone at £272, while Pulster is charging €299 in Germany. The phone is expected to available from early July.