open-source

J. Gold Associates predict that in the near fufure, three to six months from now, Google and Nokia will combine their Android and Symbian platforms "to provide a single open source OS". Although there are no signs that somehow prove the aforementioned statement, the source is positively convinced that will happen very soon.

"A combination of the Android and Symbian efforts would be good for the industry, good for Google and good for Symbian", - say analysts.

As expected, the OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner will be available for order at www.openmoko.com starting July 4. Shipping will begin on Monday, July 7. As for the price, the device will cost you $399.

Features of the FreeRunner incude:

• Tri-band GSM;
• 2.8" VGA touchscreen;
• A-GPS;
• GPRS/2.6G;
• Wi-Fi;
• Bluetooth 2.0;<

Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and NTT DoCoMo in partnership with AT&T, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and Vodafone have formed the Symbian Foundation, a non-profit organization with the aim of merging Symbian OS, S60, UIQ and MOAP to build one unified open source mobile software platform.