| Linux device aims to become first mass-market videophone |
Sep. 21, 2004
 [Updated Sep. 23] -- Amstrad has used embedded Linux to build an inexpensive videophone. The £100 (about $180) Amstrad E3 enables users to send email and SMS/MMS messages, surf the Web, and videoconference with other E3 users over a 56K modem connection to a UK service provider.
(Click for larger view of Amstrad E3)
E3 features include:- Optional videoconferencing with other E3 users at the touch of a button. Includes accept/decline confirmation screen, and single and dual-screen [screenshot] modes.
- Email/Fax client [screenshot] through Amserve service, includes email notification, remote Webmail and support for photo and voice attachments
- Web access through the "Amsurf" portal [screenshot]
- SMS/MMS message client [screenshot] lets users send text (up to 160 characters) and multimedia messages to mobile phone users. The SMS (text message) client can also be configured (in conjunction with optional Caller Display) to autorespond to messages from specific mobile phones.
- A "photosend" client is included [screenshot] that supports capturing a number of photos, and then selecting one to send in an email or MMS message
- Polyphonic ringtone downloads work in conjunction with an optional Caller Display subscription to let users assign distinctive rings to specific callers or, in households with a shared phone, to specific lists of contacts
- A high contrast color LCD screen supporting 480 x 320 resolution [image]
- Games, including arcade, puzzle, and shooter games, which work with an included game pad [image]
- Digital answering machine supports remote access (but not, apparently, customized outgoing messages for specific callers)
- Full-duplex handsfree (speakerphone) operation
 The E3 is based on a dual core Texas Instruments OMAP SoC (system on chip) with RISC and DSP cores clocked at 150MHz. It has 32MB of Flash, and 32MB of SDRAM. I/O ports include a USB port, which could be used in the future to expand the device with support for WiFi or a broadband connection.
The operating system includes a 2.4.18 Linux kernel, with 2.6 under consideration for a future version. However, according to Amstrad spokesperson Dave Fraser, no other open source software was used in the device.
According to Amstrad, using MontaVista Linux helped keep costs down on the innovative E3 videophone. "Thanks, in part, to MontaVista Linux, we can offer this full featured phone for the home, to our customers at a very reasonable cost. At a retail price of around £99 the Amstrad E3 is a very compelling proposition and is a significant step towards bringing video phone functionality to the mass market," said Simon Sugar, Amstrad commercial director.
MontaVista's UK president Ian Graham added, "Consumer devices, such as the Amstrad E3 videophone, are integrating more functionality and new features. To make these devices easy-to-use for consumers, the underlying software needs to be very sophisticated."
Amstrad was founded 35 years ago by Alan Sugar, and was among the first companies in the world that sold computers to home users.
The phones are currently available for £179 per pair from select British retailers. An email session on the Amstrad E3 currenctly costs 15 pence (plus local call rate per minute). One session allows you to send multiple emails, as well as collect and receive all waiting email. Additional charges include (current at time of printing):- Video calling 50 pence per call plus the cost of the phone call
- Surfing 5 pence per minute at ALL times
- Photo send 25 pence per email with photo attachment
- MMS £1.00 per message sent
- SMS 50 pence per message sent
- Games Costs vary and can be viewed on screen prior to ordering
- Polyphonic ringtones £1.50 per minute and last approximately 2 minutes 40 seconds
- Fax - £1.00 per fax message sent
Related Stories:
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.
4 Legal Reasons to Control Internet Access
The Internet is obviously a valuable resource for many organizations. However, many are exposed to legal liability concerns because they fail to control Internet access. Learn if you're safe in this white paper.
Rapidly Resolve J2EE Application Problems
Whether you are in the process of building J2EE applications or have J2EE applications already running in production, you must ensure that they deliver the expected ROI. Learn how in this white paper.
Load Testing 2.0 for Web 2.0
There are many unknowns in stress testing Web 2.0 applications. Find out how to test the performance of Web 2.0 in this white paper.
Build Better Games Online
For the game infrastructure providers, life is complex. Making money from games has become more complicated. Why? Find out in this white paper.
Building a Virtual Infrastructure from Servers to Storage
This white paper discusses the virtual storage solutions that reduce cost, increase storage utilization, and address the challenges of backing up and restoring Server environments.
Gaining Faster Wireless Connections with WiMAX
Welcome to what is quickly becoming the hyperconnected world where anything that would benefit from being connected to the network will be connected. Learn more in this white paper.
Is Your Desktop a Security Threat?
The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into those business operations and resources. Learn how to stay safe in this white paper.
Increasing SAN Reliability by 100 Percent
Storage area networks (SAN) are a strong part of storage plans. Learn how to increase your reliability and uptime by 100 percent in this case study.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed![[image]](/files/misc/amstrad_lcd_and_camera.gif){kind=link}