Linux on portable phones

wyan · n00b Joined: 31 Dec 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Madrid, Spain

Hello everybody!

I've been lately trying to find reports on installing Linux on portable phones, but it seems that no one has (yet) done it. All the matches Google gives me are related on the connectivity between Linux boxes and portable phones, none on installing Linux on the phone itself.

Since many phones now used are based on ARM technology, it would be (at least theoretically) possible to develop a specific kernel to a particular machine.

Does anyone know of any phone model which is documented enough to even think about such a porting? I'm not trying (yet) to make a phone still work like a phone with linux on it, just being able to install it...

Of course, I'm posting this here because I'm a Gentoo fanatic. I'd love to see my phone with Portage on it

Thanks!

gen2fox · Guru Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 544

Came across this a while ago:
http://www.yipton.demon.co.uk/content.html#LinuxAAEC2000

I have no idea how to use it or where, but it may be of use for you.

tom61 · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 07 Jan 2005 Posts: 111

You want to check out this place:
http://www.linuxdevices.com/

There are already mobile phones that have linux installed from the start. Problem is finding them outside of Asia (where Linux embedded adoption is high).

The best place to find info on adding Linux to an existing non-Linux embedded device is:
http://www.handhelds.org/geeklog/index.php

Probably the easiest way (outside of Asia) to have portage on your phone is to buy a Sharp Zaurus, install portage on a X11 based ROM, and get a cellular card for it.