Malaysian embedded-device firm Gupp Technologies is readying a new version of its Linux-based, dual-mode (WiFi and GSM) “Phreedom” phone. The “Phreedom-Monday” offers improved VoIP quality, according to Trinity Convergence, which is supplying its VeriCall Edge VoIP/multimedia stack for use in the… updated phone.

(Click for larger view of the Phreedom-Monday)

The new phone, whose unusual name combines two words that are not typically associated, is due for shipment in the second quarter, says Gupp. It succeeds Gupp's original Phreedom phone, an interesting WiFi-centric dual-mode device that was launched into Malaysia's vibrant mobile phone market in 2007.

The original Gupp Phreedom (Click for details)

Like the original Phreedom (pictured), the Phreedom-Monday is a dual-mode multimedia and communications device that uses WiFi as its primary data transfer medium, and standard SIP-based VoIP as its primary voice-calling platform. When WiFi is not available for voice-over-WiFi (VoWiFi), the product falls back to GSM.

The original Phreedom was built around a Marvell PXA270 processor clocked at 312MHz, and measured 4.4 x 2.6 x 0.75 inches. It somewhat resembled Palm's Treo devices of the era, with a front-facing QWERTY keyboard and a landscape-mode 2.5-inch QVGA LCD display. The device was equipped with an 802.11b/g WiFi radio and a “double tri-band” GSM radio.

Few details are available yet about the new Phreedom-Monday, but it appears to offer improved VoWiFi quality, and more seamless roaming handoffs. Additional features are said to include web browsing, email, music downloading, and a “Smart Call Flow” capability.

VoIP stack upgrade

The original Phreedom apparently used WiFi and VoIP stacks built into its Qtopia-based Convergent Linux Platform (CLP) operating system, which was supplied by fellow Malaysian firm a la Mobile. The new Phreedom-Monday steps up to Trinity's mature, VoIP/video middleware product. Announced in 2003, VeriCall Edge has been used in Thomson's “WiFi Tablet”, as well as the Sony Mylo handheld device, among other devices. It was recently ported to Texas Instruments's DaVinci digital signal processor (DSP) platform.

VeriCall Edge architecture

Stated Guy Tessens, Co-Founder and CEO/Managing Director of Gupp Technologies, “The expertise of Trinity Convergence and its VeriCall Edge software have been instrumental in helping ensure that the voice-over-WiFi call quality is pristine.”

Stated Brian Lees, VP of sales and business development for APAC and EMEA, Trinity Convergence, “Gupp has developed a truly innovative IP-centric mobile communication device that puts more functionality and flexibility into the hands of the user. The focus on WiFi is a departure from other dual-mode devices, and takes advantage of the high-density of networks and users spreading across many parts of Asia.”

Availability

The Phreedom-Monday will be available in the second quarter, says Gupp Technologies. More on Trinity Convergence's VeriCall Edge may be found here.

 
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