Build-it-yourself cell phones

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Most aren't starting entirely from scratch. To comply with regulatory requirements, the projects have to find radio components that have already been approved by the FCC.

In this vein, tinkerers have found several companies that sell components originally meant for embedded systems such as surveillance cameras or GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers, which are allowed to transmit on the big cell phone networks.

Small screens and keypads are relatively easy to come by. The recent emergence of tiny Linux-based computer systems, each about the size of a pack of gum, have given them the brains for the phones. Cheaper "microcontrollers" are also available, which are simpler to install, but provide far less flexibility for applications.

Once all of those parts are connected, a homebrew phone needs a Subscriber Identification Module, or SIM, card, the little chip that stores information about which carrier network to use, what the phone's number is, and other personal data. These can be taken out of any GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)-based phone, or can be purchased on a prepaid basis.

Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile phones both use the GSM wireless standard in the United States. Other carriers use a different technology, which makes it harder for the tinkerers to adapt their equipment.

The early phone tinkerers are hoping that their work sparks a broader response in the open-source community. Once a few people show a way forward in hardware, interesting things can be done by other software developers, they say.

Patel is helping organize an Emerging Telephony Conference with tech publisher O'Reilly Media in January, where he hopes to show off as many grassroots development projects as he can find.

"I have very selfish goals," Patel said. "I want to create demos and prototypes to show clients, and I can't demonstrate the future to you if I can't actually access it. But it's very clear that it's the hacker kids that are doing all the cool stuff."

Re: GSM Linux Phone

I came across Surj's project whilst I was working on my GPRS-embeded device. Whilst it gave me some direction as to which components to look for and their expected costs, it looked like it was still infant at the time.

You might not believe that there are many low cost chips by various manufacturers such as Siemens that do even more than what phones are capable of: GSM+GPRS+GPS+Processing... all you need to add is display and a few peripherals... of you go! Of course you've got to figure your way around the inevitable power supply and some processors might need you to cool them or be a little bit easier on them.

go linux! anyway I saw a cnet article earlier today suggesting that Micro$oft is exploring a free-windows strategy - what a linux victory!

~mesh

[photoca]

I hate to do this. But can't you buy a pocketpc Phone for just $130?

I hate to be one of those Poo-Poo'ers but can't he just buy say a VOQ from geeks.com or amazon which is a $130 PocketPC 2003SE Phone and build all the "Features" He can?
He even can get Unlimited Internet on it for just $5 for the t-mobile people. (Gruups.com/tzones)

[javierlopezroman]

Tetris is not a feature.

First, Microsoft's PocketPC would never allow you to program at the level that lets the OS talk to the hardware. That means working with what you are given, and you aren't given much.

the do-it-yourself crowd isn't happy with what is given to you. they want devices that do the things they want, thier way, now. waiting for someone to do what you can do yourself does not leave us feeling content.

I havn't upgraded my cell phone in three years. Why? No new features. No phone on the market aside from a few ultra-high-end smartphones and hybrid devices offer any new features (particularly network features). Motorola's Rokr with iTunes is an exception, because it is affordable and attainable, but still not innovative.

I've used bluetooth in my Ericsson T39 since 2001, own two BlueSPOON headsets, and have always had automatic PC sync-backup when i walk in the house (for those days I accidentally swam with my phone. remarkably, the T39 repeatedly survived this).

When I upgraded to the T610 two years later, all I got was a camera (yay), a color screen (can't see in the sun), and IMAP email access (for emergencies), and MMS (for that once-a-year picture message). Everything else already existed in the T39 in 2001.

Things like Bluetooth are no longer cutting-edge. Cameras are toys; fun but essentially useless. Microsoft's PocketPC is not an open system (not legally modifiable); can't do much there. Calanders and file (media) storage is abundant, and usually easier outside your cell. Sooooo, what now? Wait?

We - the unsatisfied users (hackers, if you choose) - don't want the obvious, we want more. We want IP telephony from our GSM/3G handsets to appear through our bluetooth headsets. We want 3G internet to take over automatically when we walk out of WiFi's range. We want to write a simple piece of software that turns our cellcams into webcams in the coffee shop or the highway, triangulates coordinates in the phone using tower locations, or just program the useless unmarked button on the side of the phone. If we find a way, we won't wait. We'll do it now. For example:

mobile internet: 2003. Sprint Vision network, ericsson T608 (CDMA with bluetooth). enter the Vision network command as the dial-up number in your bluetooth laptop. 100k wireless. free. no hacks needed.

[bobby_brady]

I like the picture of hte old Mac

This guy doing the soldering in the picture must really be high-tech.

[Surj]

And next to it is a TRS-80

Actually a Radio Shack TRS-80 color computer 2. Whopping 64k of ram. :-) I like old stuff.

[davevontexas]

Just imagine how k-rad l33t he'd be if he was testing a circuit board with a multimeter.

High five.

Mobile Phone reuse

Related to Standard Linux Mobile phone, the concept can be extended further. Each year there are hundred millions of mobile handset dumped. It will be tremendous beneficial to the Mother Earth if we can recycle the handsets. One likelihood is to strip out the mobile engines and use it for other applications such as mobile tracking devices. But this requires handset manufacurers to open up its interface. If this is not done, it will be very difficult to re-use the handset core. And the electronics PCBA become hanzardous waste.

[AECRADIO]

Cellphone reuse.

Not only should the interface be accessible, but the core RF sections of the phone should be able to be made use of as well, from the synthesizer to the power amp and the receiver side for its RF amp, and filtering.

There are a lot of usable omponents to make use of, even short range communications can be possible if you can strip off the control coding to enable the radio to operate 'off-network', and as a simplex(single channel)device.

The addition of real antennas is relarively simple, and even those are readily found on commercial sites, as well as sold by folks like me.

Too many good handsets are being junked as 'useless' because they fell out of favor by the 'in' crowd due to lack of 'cool' features and web access.

I have web access on my PC, I surely don't need to ham-string my phone with the web as well, not to mention those outrageous data charges on top of it all.

The VCOs in most of the older 'bag' phones are easily reused, as are the RF power amps as many are quite usable up into the 900 Mhz. range where the amateur radio band is located, as are the license free portions of 900 are.

I'm certain we could strip the RF decks and fabricate a large supply of voice link radios and even data radios as well from these throw-aways.

The opportunity is here, it's now about how you make use of what's available that determines what happens next.

If anybody wishes to collaberate on these projects, Email me at: [e-mail] for contact, I'll be waiting.

[bigyahu]

hey, i have a desktop client for this!

We have a client that'll run on MIDP1 & 2, as well as Symbian
phones. Dev kit is free - http://www.bluepulse.com/community/
developer.php

[shreeg]

Interesting stuff

Pardon my limited knowledge but would J2ME not allow you to do what you're trying with kernel level tweaking?

[208774626618253979477959487856]

Build yourself an iPod!

http://www.analogstereo.com/cassette_deck_aiwa_bmz_k7d.htm

[AECRADIO]

Cingular's wrong comment....

As far as approvign any radio for use by the public or a company, the F.C.C is the only authority you need to confer with.

Cingular's statement about a homebrewer needing '
their' approval is hogwash, if it's approved by the F.C.C, then it can be used where it's intended to be used, the only thing Cingular can tell you, is that they will not allow its use on their network, but have no authority in approval or denial with anything radio-related in the U.S.

That is strictly our of their control and authority.

The statement can mislead many to assume Cingular is a regulatory body, which they are not.
They should add a byline disclaimer pertaining to this, if not only to correct an improper statement, but to keep the truth at the top above all others.

[SlimXavier]

Custom Made Phones

We are working on a line of Custom Made Phones.

Mark
http://map2010.proboards74.com/index.cgi

[dr_wotwot]

I'm pretty new to all this and am not sure if this is the right forum to be asking this question in - but here goes.

I want to build a small battery powered device that will simply ring when it is called from another phone. How easey is this to do? Could anyone point me in the right direction for bits or advice?

thanks - an appreciative novice

[shomnat]

I have a Sony Ericcson W 580 i , a really good phone - but i went canoeing with it and my canoe tipped off and the phone got wet and it doesn't work anymore.

So i was thinking of building some other thing like a photo frame or something, ( ideas are welcome) - but going about building something from a broken cellphone seems to be much more daunting than building one from a broken laptop.

[kagayanondemisamis]

Hello! Is there a cell phone that can double as remote camera? or a cell phone that can be programmed to turn on at the signal of an incoming call or incoming message? or be programmed to turn on at several times of the day, take and record pictures, with the option to store it or send it via mms? and then turn off at the programmed time? Or a cellphone that turns automatically as it senses motion, take picture and then sleep again. and remotely access stored pictures thru internet or another cellfone?

Cell phones must now turn to the next level. Value added features for cellphones will surely open up new markets. Thanks.