We've come across the idea of building a mobile phone from the Raspberry Pi before, and it certainly won't be the last. However, the arrival of the Raspberry Pi Zero doubled the odds in favor of developers thanks to its compact design and low power consumption. One of the most recent "Pi telephony" projects is the ZeroPhone, which shouldn't cost more than $50 to build... in theory.
A Scarcity Problem
The situation of the Raspberry Pi Zero is strange no matter how you look at it. In some regions it's easy to get, while in others it has taken on a mythical status due to its scarcity. The low price of the Zero (and by extension, its limited profit margin) means some stores have no interest in selling it, which hurts any DIY project with a humble budget. Personally, I hope the situation improves soon (I admit I'd like to buy two or three), because the projects to develop are piling up, and one more has joined our list: the ZeroPhone.
Inside the ZeroPhone
The goal is to create a smartphone that's as open source as possible (the blobs associated with the Raspberry Pi make it impossible to achieve this completely), easy to assemble and repair, with widely available parts, and software that doesn't fall into the madness of permissions and privacy problems. According to its creator Arsenijs, the total cost of the parts is around $50, and no complex soldering is required. The user interface is written in Python, an ESP8266 module handles WiFi connectivity, and the SIM800L does the same for mobile access. Still, the SIM800L is 2G, and since many countries have already begun phasing out their 2G networks, Arsenijs is looking for a viable replacement.
The available images make it clear that the ZeroPhone is a prototype, and it still has several details to work out, starting with the power source. In this initial version, we basically find a power pack strapped to one side of the smartphone, and I imagine that with a 3D-printed case and a more compact battery, everything will come together beautifully. We'll be keeping an eye on its evolution.
