Vertical applications
From Openmoko
Clear market definition and business model allows developers to focus development effort on key features and make it possible for open communities to produce "complete products" necessary for wide-spread end-user adoption.
Suggested product differentiation from marketing perspective:
Contents |
The Popular Phone
- Business phone - a phone for the business manager.
- Student phone - a phone for the student.
- OL (Office Lady) phone - a phone for the working women.
The Specialized Communicator Device
- Mobile photo frame - a pocket photo frame with automatic updates and "push photo" function.
- Large-button phone - a simplified touch phone dedicated to children and elderly markets.
- Senior health monitor - a simplified touch phone with fall detection and emergency dialing features.
- suggestions on product differentiation below - from the HARDWARE perspective
What Lead To This Conclusion
Careful eye notices that among hardware wishlists are incompatible requirements like: to make the phone smaller, lighter - and bigger, with more features, like keyboard. Thus we can assume that those are the requirements for devices for different customer segments. By designing a single PCB (or two) and using it in different outer shells we can create the right device for everyone. General summary of the findings follows below.
Most Wanted Shell/Casing Designs
- Stylish Phone
The original Neo1973 egg-like shell, or similar (lighter) - for those who want style (like current i-Phone owners) Design requirements: light!, foolproof, only virtual keyboard, environment resistant (survival of dust and humidity in back pocket of a heavy person for 24 months), this should be the most torque and impact resistant model as it will be liked by kids too. Rather small battery to spare weight, models without GPS possible. This should be a model where most cost savings could be made to satisfy a certain market segments, but beware, even then the profit margins should be kept on the cheaper variants.
- Squarephone
Manager-styled phone with the same mainboard, features, etc. as the above. This should provide at least some more executive/planning than standard phone, some office features (additional applications) that only those kind of people will use, and some golf planner. MicroSD should contain Open Office, planner (MS Outlook compatibility and syncing would be nice, because these managers are the ones who pay large sums of money for expensive work-toys). Square size allows for a bit larger battery capacity for maximum operating time. Also for RAM, CPU and other ICs should be more expensive ultra-low power models. (if available) This should be the top-of-the class phone, most expensive of the pack. It does not need to be sold under the same product name as the rest. Every advertised feature should be voiced/repeated ad nauseum. It works for intel.
- Multimedia Student
This one may feature an enhanced mainboard. The outer shell may have directional controller/s as it will be many times used in landscape mode as a multimedia player, data reader, pdf viewer, internet browser, etc. The enhanced mainboard shoud carry additional TWO 3.5mm stereo jacks for music/movie playback. Especially young couples use it to watch videos/movies during long travels, or listening to the music. There should be a sliding keyboard as on the 'Ultimate Geek' model. The mechanical attachment of the keyboard and keyboard itself has to be strong enough to withstand lots of text typing. Say, 40000 characters, every day per 2 years (guarantee requirements). There should be an SD card connector in addition to the microSD. (The microSD should serve as main applications storage and the large SD as data/media storage)
- Ultimate Geek
Similar as above, this has to be even more equipped. This is the model where the expansion connectors will be used the most. The housing could be a slight bit larger than the student model or/and the display screen larger too, since the gaming control buttons on sides will not present.
The unit should be connectable to a base station with mini, portable keyboard in front (may serve as power supply and USB hub too) (this feature may be available on the student model too) Thus this unit would become a complete mobile office.
Software: should contain all needed utilities, shells, terminals, file managers (mc), irc, silc, all tools for remote administration, network surveillance; easily switchable screen modes, and switching between graphical and text terminals easily and quickly. Tools for building software for openmoko should be included.
This should become the paradise for every system admin, students, everyone who wants a linux computer features and stay mobile. In other words: The goal is to make every programmer/developper/sysadmin using this tool for a short while wanting to stay with it forever.
Hardware standpoint
- All models should have the same basic hardware in terms of CPU, RAM, WiFi, bluetooth and other basic elements. The GPS and GSM module, camera should/could be optional (like being left out at time of manufacture or not being plugged in into the connectors). Without optional features the OpenMoko platform will essentially become a PDA, smart terminal, media player, a general computer, gaming device, text and spreadsheet editor, scientific calculator, dictionary and library. Similar devices in that class are ASUS EEE, OLPC XO.
- There should be one, two or three expansion connectors on the main board. (enhanced mainboard) The type should be the same as is the one to the (-can-not-find-image-), white dual row connector with easy plug-in. Opposite connector would be soldered on flat ribbon polyimide cable and the other end would end on the expansion module. The GPS, RS-232 serial port, USB host adapter, second, third ethernet (LAN) interface (WiFi or wired), other networks and modems, camera, other storage socket (SD/MMC), can be easily plugged into this connectors and their PCBs placed inside the phone housing of an open phone (the Ultimate Geek model). This will allow for insertion of alternative GSM/UMTS/HSDPA modules, alternative GPS modules, analog or digital TV modules, FM radio, laser pointers, future LED projector, TV out, etc. etc. - and in general it will make development of new extensions, drivers for the OpenMoko platform very easy.
This considered existence of two mainboard models: standard and enhanced. The enhanced is basically the same as the standard, but it carries additional:
- 2x 3.5mm stereo jacks - standard SD card connector - second SIM holder (perharps trough the expansion connector, as size permits) - expansion connectors - larger battery - better placement of the GPS antenna or GPS antenna connected by a cable - sliding keyboard in landscape position - connector for external interface on right side, so it can be plugged into external keyboard-dock (KBD-dock can have PC USB hub and provide batt. charging) - better speaker setup - stereo? - various little improvements (TBD)
- - The enhanced mainboard fits in a bit larger phone shell, which may accomodate either standard display and gaming controls, or a larger display.
