I stumbled upon these open mobile phone platforms recently. They are based on open architectures and open source software:

IBC 2006 is over. The CRC booth was very popular and again, it proved to be an excellent platform for us to participate in the global conversation about broadcasting in general. In fact, we have met with organisations across the whole value chain: broadcasters, content aggregators, network owners and operators, equipment and device manufacturers and so on.

As expected, the demonstrated MMB system has generated great discussions. There seems to be a general consent that our work shows the power of re-mixing, re-combining and tweaking system building blocks, including open source software (OSS) components. However, further discussions will be required to define the future of our platform.

Many broadcasters, ranging from large corporations down to small community low power ventures, have expressed the need for such a light platform. In large corporations, technologists would like open and low cost systems to quickly build persuasive demonstrations. Although these systems lack important functionalities, engineers feel they could use them to demonstrate the powerful caractersitics of DAB/DMB to their upper-management strategists and decision makers. It seems difficult for them to get the budjets for professionnal equipment at this point.

Also, smaller cummunity and public broadcasters told us that they simply don't have the resources to acquire expensive professionnal transmitters. CRC's platform would allow them to launch their services right now, without actually having to wait for the funding required to build more stable operations. An upgrade to more robust industrial equipment would be done later on, once the programs are successful.

We have also heard about low-power FM projects that are currently launched with less than 2000 Euros for 1 kW power transmitters. Enabeling this type of grass-root movements in DAB/DMB could potentially accelerate the adoption of the related standards as well.

We are currently attending the IBC 2006 conference and exhibition in Amsterdam. You can have a look at our MMB demonstration on YouTube. The sound is very bad but it gives you an idea. The exhibition floor will open tomorrow at noon. Hope to see you there!

So why not launch this blog with good news?