OpenMoko develops completely open Linux-based mobile phones that can be modified and improved in the spirit of open source. OpenMoko's developer-oriented Neo1973 was released last year and the consumer model, called the FreeRunner, is expected to move into the mass production stage next month.

Imagine owning a smart phone that you can hack just as freely as a PC. OpenMoko is an embedded Linux-based mobile platform, and the Neo Freerunner is OpenMoko's slick little touch-screen smart phone that runs OpenMoko.

"Dear Community! Today is the day that we've all been waiting for: We can finally take your order for the world's first freed phone. [openmoko-announce]"

A Q&A with OpenMoko on its upcoming Neo 1973, called a hacker's answer to the iPhone. The Neo 1973, the first phone to use the open-source, Linux-based OpenMoko mobile operating system, has techies abuzz in anticipation of its October consumer release.

Barcelona, Spain-based Tuxbrain has released an application-rich Linux distribution for the Openmoko Neo FreeRunner phone called Fat and Dirty OpenMoko (FDOM). In addition, Openmoko announced that both Tuxbrain and French design firm FaberNovel have joined the company's network of more than 20 distributors.

Openmoko Inc, maker of the world's first totally open mobile phone, today announced that faberNovel, Inc has joined the worldwide distribution network for the FreeRunner open source mobile phone. Since launching the FreeRunner in July of this year, Openmoko has built out a network of more than 20 distributors covering North America, Europe and Asia.

Openmoko has launched an educational program at National Tsing Hua University of Taiwan to teach students about mobile device design using its open-source mobile Linux phone, the Neo FreeRunner (pictured). The "OpenLab" is the first step in a worldwide educational outreach program, says Openmoko.

This past week the Phase 2 "Mass Market" schedule for the OpenMoko Neo1973 was revised. OpenMoko now expects the GTA02v3 design to be finalized by September 20 while on December 10 it will begin production in "moderate volumes".

If you mosey on over to http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Community_Updates you'll see that
the open source mobile phone is finally in production and predicted to be available for sale in the U.S. in early July.