OpenMoko sacrifices FreeRunner, employees for 'Plan B'

Taiwanese company First International Computer debuted its 400 MHz touchscreen GSM OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner Linux-based smartphone last year, as a fully open-source device for those users who like full customization. At OpenExpo in Bern today, OpenMoko's CEO Sean Moss-Pultz says the device has been cancelled, and in the wake of that announcement, the company dropped nearly half of its staff.

Moss-Pultz said the layoffs were of utmost importance for the company to stay in business and concentrate on its "Plan B." This plan, according to the CEO, involves a non-telecommunications device which is already in the company's pipeline. Unfortunately, he could not offer any further details as to the nature of the device.