iPhone and GSM alternatives

"Phone Shows Apple’s Impact on Consumer Products" talks about how 3rd party software won't be allowed (for now :-). I guess they are concerned about apps going loose as noted by Jobs:

“You don’t want your phone to be an open platform,” meaning that anyone can write applications for it and potentially gum up the provider's network, says Jobs. “You need it to work when you need it to work. Cingular doesn’t want to see their West Coast network go down because some application messed up.”

Contrast this with open source GSM phones like: OpenMoko and GreenPhone. I believe that very creative applications will come out of these projects, sooner than later (depending on how much momentum they get)....

On the other hand, LA Times has "In Japan, barely a ripple: Apple's much-anticipated iPhone is 'business as usual' in a country where mobile features already are so advanced." So merely having a "fancy" phone won't be good enough in Japan (esp. with iPhone's 2G or 2.5G features when Japanese phones are doing 3G -- 3rd Generation that is).

Update 7PM: Apple: Calling all iPhone engineers:

Company is looking to hire software and hardware techies to beef up features of its mobile phone.
Apple is putting out a call for engineers to join its ranks in an effort to beef up its iPhone.
The company is looking to add 33 positions to its iPhone ranks

So, looks like they'll be busy building their own apps...

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