Unlocked Linux smartphone swivels 180 degrees
By Eric Brown
2010-03-24
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ChinaGrabber is selling an unlocked, quadband GSM cellphone that runs Linux on a 624MHz Marvell PXA310. The $570 BPhone features a 5-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen with 180-degree rotation, plus WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and up to 16GB flash expansion.Retail site ChinaGrabber is not likely the manufacturer of the BPhone, although the phone appears to have no branding at all except for the BPhone name. The unlocked phone runs Linux 2.6 on Marvell's ARM/XScale PXA320 processor, which first shipped in 2007. Clocked to 624MHz, the processor is accompanied by 128MB SDRAM and 256MB of flash storage, says ChinaGrabber. An SD slot is said to support cards up to 16GB.
The BPhone
The BPhone is most notable for its ample 5-inch, 800 x 480 touchscreen, which swivels 180-degrees. The display can fold flat against the keyboard, with the screen either up or down, or the phone can be used like a clamshell handheld.
The huge display adds to the hefty size (5.71 x 3.74 x 0.96 inches), and the Bphone weighs over 10 ounces. That's over four ounces more than the heavy-duty Motorola Droid, or as Verizon now prefers to call it in its hilariously testosterone-drenched commercials, the "bare-knuckled bucketful of does." Droid, you may have met your macho equal.
 
BPhone in clamshell mode (top) and side view
The BPhone ships unlocked, and is compatible with quad-band GSM networks and GPRS services worldwide, including AT&T and T-Mobile networks in the U.S., says ChinaGrabber. Additional features include WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and an FM radio.
There does not appear to be a built-in mic, and there's no mention of speakers, but the phone ships with stereo earphones that include a mic. The BPhone also offers up to four hours talk time, claims ChinaGrabber.
 
BPhone in reverse swivel mode (top) and folded flat
The Java-ready phone is available in Chinese or English, and supplies a variety of productivity apps, as well as MP3/MP4 audio and video players. ChinaGrabber does not mention what type of UI layer is running on the ARM Linux 2.6 system, but the touch-enabled, Android-inspired widget interface appears to be a definite step up from the typical Linux handheld.
BPhone interface
(Click to enlarge)
Specifications listed for the BPhone include:
- Processor -- Marvell PXA310 @ 624MHz
- Memory -- 128MB SDRAM
- Flash -- 256MB of NAND flash; 1 x memory card slot for up to 16GB
- Display -- 5-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen with 180-degree rotation
- Wireless:
- GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900MHz
- WiFi with WAP
- Bluetooth
- FM radio
- GPS
- Audio -- earphone connector; stereo earphones with built-in mic and clip; audio recorder; MP3, WAV, AMR, AWB playback
- Video -- 3GP/MPEG4 (AVI) playback
- Other features -- QWERTY keyboard; USB port; leather case
- Software:
- Java-compatible
- Chinese or English
- Phone book with 2,000 entries
- SMS/MMS
- Calendar, notes, alarm clock, calculator
- E-book reader (TXT only)
- Battery -- Li-ion with up to 4 hours talk time, 400 hours standby
- Dimensions -- 5.71 x 3.74 x 0.96 inches (145 × 95 × 24.5mm)
- Weight -- 10.3 oz (0.291 kg)
- Operating system -- ARM Linux 2.6
 
BPhone closed (top) and back view
Availability
ChinaGrabber lists the BPhone as being on sale now for $570, a $230 discount off the claimed $800 list price, including free shipping. More information may be found here.
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