gPhone hardware specifications

So I thought I'd have a look at the targets for the upcoming gPhone. The order listed below describes the level of importance in a candidate device. However, without these features, the functionality of our device will differ to a lesser degree from existing products, or will appear to be less functional than existing devices. In total, these targets specify two needs: to match currently-offered technology in a familiar and convenient manner, and to provide the extra functionality needed to successfully market the device.

Candidate Device Targets

• Standard network interoperability (at least EDGE/GPRS)
• two-way videoconferencing capability
• WiMax (802.16e-2005) and WiFi (802.11a/b/g) capability
• small in form, lightweight
• video/still camera capability, preferably with flash
• Bluetooth 2.0 capability
• At least 1GB storage
• At least 2” diagonal 256K color screen

As of the time of this writing, the closest match to our target specifications is in a mobile handset recently announced by Motorola (Q4, 2006, released for the 2007 model year), the MOTORAZR MAXX. This unit meets or exceeds all areas of our target specification with the exception of WiMax and WiFi abilities. Since WiMax and WiFi are two technologies we will depend on to differentiate our product from the marketplace, some additions to the MOTORAZR MAXX will be necessary, as expected. Below is a summary of the technologies provided in the MOTORAZR MAXX.

2007 Motorola MOTORAZR MAXX

• HSDPA “3.5G” (7.2Mb/s+)
• EDGE “2.5/3G” (237kb/s)
• GPRS “2.5G” (8kb/s)
• 2-way video at 15 frames per second
• Class 2 Bluetooth (“Bluetooth 2.0”)
• 3.5 ounces / 0.6” thick
• 2.2” 256K OLED screen
• 2MP VGA video and still camera w/ flash
• 50MB internal storage w/ MicroSD expansion slot
• Metal and glass construction
• form complies with Motorola's RAZR line of specifications

The MOTORAZR MAXX contains nearly all the functionality specified in the target device description. However, some of the features that will differentiate our product from the market are missing. There are two areas that need addressing before a modified MOTORAZR MAXX can be considered an ideal candidate.

One capability we have named is WiMax (802.16e-2005) capability. WiMax is sometimes referred to as 'municipal wifi', and this explanation goes a long way towards explaining its appeal. In short, WiMax enables a device to maintain its connection to a data service while roaming in a WiMax covered area. Typically, this means connecting to the Internet via antennas mounted to utility poles in an urban or suburban area.

While the MOTORAZR MAXX already has broadband data access capability (HSDPA), we feel that in order to market this device to any vendor, we should plan on giving the device access to data services without needing to connect to any particular carrier's network. In this regard, we are eliminating the need for a potential vendor to have an established cellular network. By offering WiMax in a hand-held mobile phone, any company interested in using the device can provide data and voice services via WiMax while utilizing the device's connection to the internet. Since the WiMax standard specifies the technical aspects of handling a mobile and roaming connection to the Internet, our device will be able to provide the same services as a traditional mobile handset without the need for subscription to a traditional telephone service operator. To this end, our recommendation would be to drop support for the data-centric HSDPA support to save on space and battery power. For the features to be added, we'll need both, and we'll gain back the data support in a different manner.

To gain this functionality, we need to integrate a mobile-ready WiMax technology into the device. While many WiMax solutions exist, the need to properly and minimally use battery life is a requirement in our application.

Recently announced (Q1, 2007), the LiteMax chip from Redpine Signals is a new design for WiMax-enabled communications specifically designed for low power consumption and a small footprint for mobile applications. With chips expected for Q3 2007, this gives our mobile device the ability to communicate via WiMax, and we are gaining one of the key aspects that differentiate our product from the market. Drivers for the chip are currently available for a variety of operating systems, including Microsoft's Windows CE and Embedded Linux. Early estimates and current WiMax performance figures place connection bandwidth at or above 10Mbps in urban areas.

Our WiMax connection will revolutionize the mobile communications service industry, but based on research into people's usage of automobiles, we can surmise that a typical handheld telephone is only truly mobile (moving from area to area) for 10% of the time it is owned by the user. While the ability to communicate while mobile is an absolute technical requirement for the device, statistics say that we also need to extend this capability to the places to which the phone will spend the most time: in the home and workplace. WiMax service may be available to these areas for some users, but WiFi access (802.11 a/b/g) has in recent years become mostly ubiquitous in urban or suburban homes and businesses. In addition, many organizations are developing systems to provide WiFi connections for users of public transportation and aircraft in flight. WiFi access, therefore, will prove to be a vital connection technology for our device, due to the amount of time the device will be in range of a WiFi access point.

To enable WiFi on our device, we've chosen the recently-announced (Q1, 2007) BCM4325 chip by Broadcom. This all-in-one design utilizes a small-sized and low-power chip that combines 802.11 a/b/g connectivity, Bluetooth 2.0 and FM radio reception. With the addition of this chip, users will be able to use their existing WiFi infrastructure in their homes, businesses and communities to communicate over an Internet connection. This not only allows the user to communicate without a traditional mobile telecommunications service, but also to communicate in areas where traditional service is poor or not available, but Internet access is in place. This allows handset owners to define their own terms of connection, and to change the quality of service by developing their own infrastructure at their discretion.