It is still 2008, and they have had a 3G smartphone prototype, which will cost less than $100. Wow, only a fraction of similar devices out there! Must be a great news for gadget lovers in developing countries.

Anyway, as mentioned, it is still a prototype. NXP Semiconductors is in progress of developing it with Purple Labs. And they call the gadget “The Purple Magic.” Its design is based on the NXP Nexperia Cellular System Solution 7210 for 3G, coupled with the Purple Labs Linux suite. They plan to market it approximately in 18 months.

A smartphone is usually built around two or more processors. One processor is dedicated to core function such as voice and network connectivity, whereas the others are used to control various featur-rich applications. But The Purple Magic run only on a single ARM926 processor, which is claimed to be able to handle all smartphone functions without diminishing quality. The designers believe that the phone would sell well in the technology-savvy emerging markets of South and East Asia.

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 Print Posted by Koen on March 14th, 2008