Before I buy... is PinePhone actually open source?

[JuniperFury]

This is as 'open source' as is possible at this price point, there is a discussion about modem isolation on the main website page about
10 months ago, that goes into detail.

The Librem would be the 'next step'  but I believe that sells for $700 - $750 USD.  that has a removable/ replaceable modem.
  and it is not currently as 'usable' as the Pine phone.

Can you link me to the modem isolation discussion?

So you're saying the quctel modem in the PinePhone cannot be removed?

I like the Librem and was ready to order but cannot wait 6 months.

Do you think the PineTab is stable enough to use a voip app?

I suggest there is no point starting with a PinePhone - start with a Raspberry Pi or some other Pi-like clone and add the peripheral bits you are happy with.

ps - I think this article is still pretty much the story on open source phones.

Why the Rasberry Pi and not Pine 64 Single board computers or other options?

Also is there a Pi version without wifi?

Unfortunately there is no such device, and there won't be so long as radio devices require regulatory approval. Read the 4G standard docs - see
https://www.3gpp.org/specifications/ - from what I remember location awareness is part of the specification. Many (most?) jurisdictions now require location for emergency calls, and network operators find it useful for a number of reasons, including selling it to 3rd parties even when they've promised they won't.

Thank you for the standard docs. I'll dive into them.

So most mobile network modems are blackboxes? Is there any way to reverse engineer them or hobble together my own 3G modem for private use?

I saw an unrelated project that might be useful: https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrews...gray-jeep/

It's using a "a software-defined radio (SDR)" for MITM attacks. Is it possible to use such a modem just for calling and not spying on other phones?

Maybe you should have a look at the ZeroPhone if you are really that nervous about your privacy.

This looks promising. Would this kit have whats necessary to to send and receive data to be used as a mifi hotspot?

Ultimately, if we cannot remove the quctel chip, is there anyone in the Pine64 community building hotspots with the Pine64 architecture? I see something like a small box with a small touch screen controlling inside a few sim cards, multiple vpns, and offering a wired or aes256 connection to the voip device wirelessly. That's what the PinePhone seems to be with what the article said. That the modem is in a blackbox, seperate from the Linux computer via USB I believe. But I want to be able to quickly throw away the IMEI if I have to without throwing the whole phone away.

Thank you all for donating your time.