Fans of the OpenMoko Neo1973 open-source Linux handset will be glad to hear that they'll soon be able to get their hands on the Neo1973's successor in the near future. The OpenMoko FreeRunner sports a faster processor than its predecessor and adds three-axis motion sensors to the mix.

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.

Last Friday, OpenMoko launched its highly anticipated FreeRunner smartphone, a Linux-based handset that's completely open in both hardware and software, and is designed to encourage third-party modification and customization. Although the FreeRunner's software platform is still incomplete, the device has attracted considerable attention from mobile software developers and Linux enthusiasts.

There has been a new batch of rumors swirling about Google producing a "gPhone" mobile telephone after a Reuters reporter stated High Tech Computer Corp would be designing the Linux phone for Google. A friendly penguin has told us at Phoronix that Google is looking to team up with OpenMoko for their "gPhone".

Openmoko, creator of the first completely open mobile computing platform, today announced agreements with five distributors for the Neo Freerunner Open Source mobile phone. Today, Openmoko will begin shipping the next generation Neo Freerunner to Pulster, Golden Delicious Computers and TRIsoft located in Germany, Bearstech in France and IDA Systems based in India.

A low priced mobile handset capable of running multiple operating systems in virtual windows and with similar features of much higher priced smart phones is about to hit the market. The handset will run Linux and at least one other OS on top of the OKL4 hypervisor from Open Kernel Labs.

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.

A Taiwanese hardware manufacturer is gearing up to begin mass producing a mobile phone based on open source software, according to sources in Taipei. The NEO1973, from First International Computer, is planned as the first of a series of phones based around the OpenMoko platform.