Neo900 reaches its fundraiser goal in less than a week
neo900.org
neo900.org
What is the baseband processor and why was it chosen ?
The real win here would be if the designers of the neo900, in conjunction with GSM hackers, or projects like osmocombb, chose a baseband processor that they had good expectations of being able to break open, and were working towards an open baseband even if it's not open yet.
That would give us a new, modern equivalent to the calypso baseband which is open and hackable, and is the de facto standard for osmocombb running on handsets. A modern, LTE capable "calypso" would be a game changer.
But nobody from the project has said anything yet ...
From Neo900 project there are plans to support "special orders" from people who want to mount TI Calypso on their PCB instead of standard modem. There was already at least one such request.
b) Even if there would be some new project for creating "free modem", replacing a firmware in such device means losing certification, which means that device is no longer legal to operate on public networks.
inb4 "I don't live in USA, your silly laws don't apply to me" - no, their don't, but similar regulations are present on nearly any place on Earth.
I think I’ll pass, but I wish them the best of luck.