[CALUG] Linux on Iphone

[Rajiv Gunja]

That is exactly how Cell Phones are being used outside US. If you go to
Europe or Asia, including India. You buy phones seperatly from phone vendors
(GSM or CDMA) and depending on what type of phone you buy you have a choice
of network you can use. Plus there is no commitment of any such kind.

With the Palm treo the limiting factor is the device itself. With what
Verizon is suggesting is that you can create any device which conforms to
their protocol (CDMA, PCS and whatever this 700 MHz brings) and they will
certify it to be on their Network. So tomorrow you can pick your own device
that you created in your shed and go to Verizon for Wireless access, of
course certain (a lot ) of restrictions apply.

Verizon might be the most constipated company when it comes to features or
devices, but I have say that their network is solid. I am not just saying
this because I work for Verizon, but because I have travelled all over US,
Canada, some parts of Europe and India and at all times, I was able to get a
CDMA signal. The best part was that I was visiting my friend in North
Bangalore and I got a call on my Cell (which I had not activated locally or
had international service) I was surprised that I could make calls too, but
of course I got charged roaming ($1.25 per minute)

Yes it would be more than a year from now before we see wide spread
acceptance of the open network policy, but with 4G around the corner, it
will be very interesting to see if we will be at par with Korea (in terms of
mobiles) or will still lag 3 to 4years behind them.

-GGR



On 3/31/08, David A. Cafaro <dac at cafaro.net> wrote:
>
> On Mar 31, 2008, at 7:31 PM, Rajiv Gunja wrote:
> >
> > Open Moko looks good, but not sure if Verizon will be supporting
> > GSM/GPRS anytime soon. As Verizon is the only company to openly
> > accept any device / any Application on their network recently. Lets
> > see how it plays out.
>
>
> Actually, ever since Verizon made this announcement I've wondered
> what on earth does it mean?  If you take it literally, then they are
> way behind the likes of T-Mobile, ATT, and just about every other GSM/
> GPRS network in the world.
>
> Example:
>
> I have an unlocked Treo 650 smartphone I bought directly from Palm.
> Palm has their phone certified to the GSM/GPRS standard, not to any
> particular network.  I can put a network SIM card into this phone and
> attach/use it on any GSM network I choose.  On top of that I can use
> any software on that phone that I choose to install.  This includes
> network programs like SSH clients, web clients, email clients,
> streaming audio/video clients, etc.
>
> So given that, what did Verizon announce, except to say they are
> going to give their customers as much freedom as GSM customers have
> been enjoying for years?
>
> And to keep this on topic, I've been keeping a close eye on OpenMoko
> as well as when/if palm will ever be releasing their Linux based
> Treo.  I'm looking forward to buying another unlocked GSM phone that
> I can use how I wish and not how the networks say I can.
>
> Cheers,
> David
>
>
> David A. Cafaro <dac at cafaro.net>
> Cafaro's Ramblings:  www.cafaro.net
>
>
>
>
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