Trolltech announced Qtopia Greenphone, the first open Linux mobile device for application developers. Greenphone enables commercial and open source developers, in-house software developers and handset manufacturers to create, modify and test Linux- based mobile phone applications on a working GSM/GPRS device, making the applications easier to build and faster to bring to market.

Greenphone will be offered as part of a complete software development kit (SDK) and includes Trolltech's Qtopia Phone Edition, an application platform and user interface for Linux-based mobile phone. Although not intended as a commercial mobile phone, Greenphone has many of the communication functions and features found in today's sophisticated smartphones. Developers can exploit these features and functions in developing their own unique applications.

Greenphone is a functioning mobile camera phone with the capability to re-flash the applications of the device.

"With Greenphone, the sky is the limit when it comes to creating and testing new applications on a powerful mobile device platform," said Haavard Nord, co-CEO, Trolltech. "Developers can create applications to suit the evolving needs of carriers and end users with a dramatically reduced development cycle," added Eirik Chambe-Eng, co-CEO, Trolltech.

Specifications

• SoftwareQtopia Phone Edition 4.1.4
• Linux kernel 2.4.19
• Hardware Touch-screen and keypad UI
• QVGA LCD color screen
• Intel XScale 312 mHz PXA270
• 64MB RAM & 128MB Flash
• Mini-SD card slot
• Broadcom BCM2121 GSM/GPRS baseband processor
• Bluetooth equipped
• Mini-USB port