Making Your Own Linux GSM Cellphone

So you want your own full-featured cell phone - and if you're a hardcore geek, maybe you're considering building your own. And if you are a hardcore geek, you would choose Linux as the operating system - because you know it's stable, and also because you know that you have full access to the source code.

And having full access to the source code is important to real geeks. Even if you don't have a clue what it does, being able to access it means a lot.

Last month, while I was still dealing with my own version of reality, I didn't get to write anything about Anarchogeek's post on building a Linux GSM phone, which in turn points to Suruj Patel's entry on the same. Thankfully, His AnarchoGeekness himself jarred my memory when we both found out we would be at the Mobile Active Convergence in less than 2 weeks. Maybe I'll bring a Simputer - the travel arrangements are a bit risky for my baggage¹, so I'm playing conservative.

The potential for a GPL and GSM phone has so many applications and benefits that it's worth pursuing - just like the Simputer. Of course, companies will resist it - but that doesn't make it a bad idea, it just may be a bad idea for them.

Imagine you could build your cell phones in your own country. Imagine that you could write your own applications (as a geek), or have someone write custom software for your phone.

Stop imagining. Let's do it! (Like I have the time, but... this fits in with mobcasting and SMS for emergency broadcasting...

While we're at it, why do we need phone numbers? Why not just user names?

¹Who would have thought that North American airlines and United Airlines wouldn't have a baggage agreement?!