4 Digital phones are small computers and are thus equipped
5 with built-in software. This is usually called firmware
6 to reflect the fact that this software isn't really very
7 soft, as it is difficult to create or replace.
9 This project is alternate firmware for digital phones,
10 named "firmly.0cpm" and hosted on http://firmly.0cpm.org/
12 This alternate firmware is special in various ways. The
13 idea of being able to innovate telephony is the major
14 driving force behind them.
16 This work is Copyright (c) 2011 OpenFortress, Rick van Rein
17 but it may be used freely; read the LICENCSE for details.
23 The problem with many current phones is that each
24 manufacturer wants to invent their own firmware. This lack
25 of sharing makes the market situation one hampered by
26 just-functioning phones. The result is a lock-in of
27 phone manufacturers and telecom operators, who have come
28 to a standstill with a service that does little more than
29 simulate old-fashioned analog telephony.
31 Digital telephony means that you are using a communications
32 device with generic computing abilities. You can do a
33 lot more if you control the firmware in a software fashion.
35 This firmware was created to give control back to the
36 users of such phones. And to break through the mutual
37 impairment between telecom operators and phone manufacturers.
39 Manufacturers of phones would be wise to adopt this openly
40 shared firmware, but they should also realise that they
41 will be obliged to share any improvements that they make,
42 including porting to their platform, and that they are
43 formally obliged to permit end users to replace the firmware
44 with their own. This is a legal obligation, as a direct
45 result of the open source licensing. There is of course
46 no obligation for a manufacturer to support such different
47 versions of firmware, as long as they don't try to block
50 If you own a phone that is not currently able to run a port
51 of this firmware, you may want to contact a hacker who will
52 usually enjoy the challenge of replacing the firmware for
53 you. Unlike what a cracker does, this is usually legal as
54 it is just reverse engineering, rather than abusive access
55 to someone else's device. Depending on the make and model
56 of your phone the hacker may fail or succeed; depending on
57 those same factors and the level of determination/payment
58 of your hacker, it may end up in a software-based install
59 or it may require per-device hardware tinkering. Please
60 realise that your hacker too will want to, and usually
61 be obliged by our license, to share the results of his
62 work publicly. You may want to look for others who can
63 contribute in the work so you benefit from sharing too.
69 We provide a calling network that you may use with this phone,
70 although you are not in any way obliged to do so. Please do
71 keep in mind that the firmware was created in support of the
72 0cpm calling network, which in itself aims at innovating the
73 area of digital telephony, and that it aims to profitably
74 integrate open source solutions and external service
75 providers as part of a "calling service community".
77 We have created other tools as well, to help this network
78 to flourish. These are a few pointers of interest:
80 http://0cpm.com/ -- Phone service, free or commercial.
81 http://0cpm.org/ -- Software development.
82 http://0cpm.net/ -- Calling service community.
projects / firmerware / blob