As I looked over the Replicant project, I noticed that all of the candidate devices mentioned had some kind of limitations due to the hardware involved. None of them could become totally Libre.
Would it be possible to construct, from component parts, a 100% Libre phone that could work reliably over our existing networks? I'm not talking about an Android variation, but something that would use a truly Libre OS--maybe a custom-built GNU/Linux distro. The project could start with *the* most basic function, simple voice communication. Once that was going smoothly, other Libre apps could be added and debugged. I think the most important point would be to construct things slowly and carefully to maintain a reliable foundation for succeeding apps; we don't want to try to compete with everything from Apple and Android too quickly. Also, of course, the price of the service would have to be competitive with existing systems. If protection from PRISM and the like could be included, that would naturally be an extra bonus. I don't have the technical knowledge to help much with the actual construction, but I might be in a position to do some beta testing as it goes along. Is this remotely feasible, or have the Property Tyrants already locked things up so firmly that the whole idea is illegal &/or physically impossible? I invite all of you nerds to join the brainstorming. Joel
