Getting Internet access on the Neo1973

GPRS

Standard Quad band [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPRS GPRS] (2.5G not EDGE) for GSM networks.

No WiFi

When version 1 was designed there was no sufficiently low-power WiFi chip available which has an open driver. [http://lists.openmoko.org/pipermail/community/2006-November/000050.html Sean Moss-Pultz explains the reason] for not having WiFi in version 1:

We are just not willing to put binary modules in our kernel. So as of now, this is still a WiFi stopper.

We are actively working with vendors to try to change this.

Future version of the hardware may have WiFi.

As the USB port in OpenMoko is unpowered, attaching a WiFi USB stick directly will not work. It is possible to attach it through a (powered) USB hub.

You could in theory use the micro-SD slot for a [http://www.spectec.com.tw/products_detal.asp?dptype=w1sdw823 WiFi-card]. But the slot is located under the battery in the middle of the phone, so the signal may not be very good. Also you will have to sacrifice having a micro-SD flash card for storage and you will then be limited to 64 MB. Also, if I understand correctly, there is only room for a micro-SD card so the WiFi card would have to be the same size.

Bluetooth

Version 1 will have Bluetooth 2.0 EDR and it should be possible to get internet access using [http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Configure_a_bluetooth_network_access_point a bridge between Bluetooth and ethernet].

Creative use of USB

Another solution is developing [http://www.linuxtogo.org/gowiki/OpenMoko/ideas/InternetOverVFAT InternetOverVFAT]

USBnet is probably the best solution if you are allowed to install software:


OpenMoko

OpenMoko/InternetAccess (last edited 2007-01-23 18:49:43 by c83-254-55-181)