The Open-PC Project Announced at GCDS 09 (KDE.News)

Be careful about labelling reported information as "the facts", if the assertion about "no concept of running 'applications' on your cell phone" is what you're referring to. I don't remember what Sean Moss-Pultz said now, and I'm totally aware of the ability to run applications even on my 2004 vintage Sony Ericsson, but there are considerable differences in terms of openness and vendor control between the classic Java ME or Symbian deployment scenarios and the kind of thing that Openmoko encourages.

One key distinction is that on an Openmoko-like device (or a cracked proprietary device) it's all about "your" applications, whether you write them yourself or get them from the Internet or wherever, not some provider's narrow stream of "authorised" downloads by "trusted partners" at however many euros, dollars or pounds a pop. Arguably, the assertion - however it was phrased - was about treating applications as applications, not services to be withheld or offered at the whim of your not-so-friendly provider. Attitudes certainly have changed since the iPhone was released and subsequently cracked, which was what Moss-Pultz said, as I recall.