Re: [GNU-linux-libre] freest hardware - phone chapter updated

[Ali Gündüz]

On Sat, Nov 27, 2010 at 1:24 PM, jaromil <address@hidden> wrote:
> what about a section for free software running GSM air interfaces?
>
> OpenBTS is awesome for that http://openbts.sourceforge.net

OpenBTS (runs on USRP, all signaling is handled by free software) and
OpenBSC (administers the network on a PC and leaves the actual
low-level signaling to the supported proprietary base station) are the
free software solutions for the "server side" of GSM. OpenBSC is
easier to maintain and offers higher performance since it's the
signaling is handled by a single-purpose device that's specifically
designed for the job, whereas USRP is a barebones software defined
radio platform. (The GSM network at HAR was run by OpenBSC and not
OpenBTS btw.)

The now some months old OsmocomBB (http://bb.osmocom.org/) is a free
firmware to be run on the baseband chip, i.e. the "client side". It
supports a specific baseband chipset that's supported on a variety of
devices from cheapo monochrome cell phones you can buy for 10 euros
(that's what I paid on ebay at least) to Openmoko Freerunner. Note,
however, that it is not ready to be used as a functional replacement
for now, since it's not integrated with any cell phone OS yet. Though,
it started supporting voice calls for a few months now! :)

Ali