OpenMoko Divorces FIC, Gets New Product

[phoronix]

Phoronix: OpenMoko Divorces FIC, Gets New Product

OpenMoko has today announced that they are now a separate company from FIC. While FIC will continue to invest in OpenMoko and will manufacturer products for the OpenMoko platform, it has become a separate company in order to further develop its brand leadership and develop new open-source business models...

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=NjI2OQ

[Radon]

I am interested in buying the OpenMoko once it's ready. What really convinced me is the Wishlist, it just shows the unlimited possibilities of the device. My favourite are:

-Emergency Call eg. when the device detects too high deacceleration
-Dictionary and thesaurus, I'm studying Chinese so this is welcome. I could use SCIM to write SMS/emails and connect to online/offline dictionaries on the go.
-Seamless calendar and contacts integration with my PC since both are running Linux

-Anti-theft mode
-Dude, where's my car?
-Bluetooth management
-Keep-in-touch reminder

-OpenOffice presenter control
-Mesh networking
-Interaction with LEGO Mindstorm
-Widgets
-Amarok remote control
-Extra Wii controller


I wonder what it will mean to them losing the direct support of FIC and why they had to seperate ways. Hoping for the best!

[bogdanbiv]

From the title I understood OpenMoko separated forcibly from FIC as in some disagreement inside the team.

Phoronix: OpenMoko Divorces FIC, Gets New Product

Reading the body of the article I get to know this is not actually the case, but it is still a bad call. "separated" was a better word.
Or first explaining the need for a separation: "<<FIC>> decided OpenMoko needs better marketing than it can provide, thus making a subsidiary company".