Hi there all,

there is a new italian mobile company that started selling a new mobile phone that I think could be interesting for the linux embedded community. This phone, called Petra, has an Arm 9 core clocked at 266Mhz and running a 2.6.19 linux kernel. It has inside a lot of peripherials, such as GSM module(what a surprise), GPS (uBlox NEO 5G, the nicest one), tri axial accelerometer, a short range radio periperial (used ny the phone for some paersonal safety feature it is sold for), a 2MPx camera, 2Gb SD card (included) and so on.

The interesting part is that is relly easy to open a root console inside the phone and use it with your own softwares.

Unfortunately the site is right now in italian only, but they answers questions in english in a really fast and professionl way.

For who is interested: www.mypetra.it, or info@synaps-technology.com.

Cya

Seems like the primary design on this thing is a personal safety device, with phone functionality coming as a bit of an after-thought. The hardware specs are pretty underwhelming as well.

Where did you see the information about it's operating system? The only thing I could find on the site was a simple line like "Uses the powerful Linux OS".

yes you are right, its primary function is the one of a security device. In fact, I found that device looking for a safety device for my girlfriend.

I had the info I wrote speaking directly with them, as I've written they are pretty fast in answers questions. By the way you are right, they admitted they are a bit late with documentation in english (that's not my problem, as I am italian too :-P)

Those are the info I obtained:

- Linux OS kernel 2.6.19 (they are soon moving to 2.6.27)
- Freescale Imx21 processor (ARM 9 core, 266 Mhz)
- 64 Mb RAM
- 128 Mb of flash memory
- Mobile Application has been done using Qt libraries that are already inside the phone ready to be used.
- Application has a dynamic plug in system, so you can write your own application and let it weork inside the main one.
- if you connect the usb cable to the device while pushing the down arrow key, it starts a serial usb gadget and you can see on the PC a ttyACM0 device, than access a root console on the phone itself.
- triaxial acceleratore both on main unit and on the radio button.

and that's all

for the personal safety goal, they are staring sales now and this features is now available in Italy only.

Well that sounds very interesting. I like that they are keeping the device open like that. Do you know what the pricing is for the phone?

yes the pricing is shown on the site.

Right now you have two possibilities to buy it:

- 490€ + 15€ for carrying
- 274€ + 9,9€/month for 2 years, carrying coming for free

then, for those italian who wnts to use the personal safety issue, there is an additional cost for the 24h service, that is again 9.9€/month.

cya

Its a great news, But i think it is too costly as it had so many features with it.But if the thing is good than the people don't have any hesitation to invest on it because mobile is something which is very useful thing.