Re:PinePhone – Beta Edition Linux SmartPhone Preorder
by seba_dos1 on Wednesday March 24, 2021 @11:04AM
(#26568125)
> Last month they even managed to fully open parts of the modem, and do calls without the closed blob for the firmware!
That's not true - what's freed is the GNU/Linux part of the modem that comes from Quectel, which is just an interface on top of Qualcomm's proprietary firmware which does the real work. This is similar to unlocking a proprietary Android phone with an integrated modem and replacing its UI, while the firmware stays as closed as it was.
This is a great development nevertheless, but such mischaracterization doesn't do anyone any good.
That's not true - what's freed is the GNU/Linux part of the modem that comes from Quectel, which is just an interface on top of Qualcomm's proprietary firmware which does the real work. This is similar to unlocking a proprietary Android phone with an integrated modem and replacing its UI, while the firmware stays as closed as it was.
This is a great development nevertheless, but such mischaracterization doesn't do anyone any good.