14 DAY TRIAL // The Raspberry Pi miniature Linux computer has to be one of the most widely supported projects of the past decade, even though it was never supposed to amount to more than a means for students to learn programming.
Now, SparqEE has posted on Kickstarter a project draft that would add cellular support to the ARM PC, provided enough funds are raised.
Perhaps we were a bit too blunt when we said Raspberry Pi was never meant to amount to much.
After all, the Raspberry Pi Foundation, like any other inventor team, must surely have wished for greater heights.
Nevertheless, it was not exactly expected for the device to become so popular so quickly, to the point where it sold out within hours of availability, repeatedly.
Mainly it was because we, of the media, focused on the device's ability to turn any TV into a Smart TV.
Over the past year, the item has been updated, and it has also received add-ons from third parties.
What SparqEE invented definitely qualifies as an add-on, one that could be more successful, or at least as successful, as the media center kit released back in June.
Called Cellv1.0, it is a board with a cellular chip, a power supply, and a SIM holder, plus a "jumper board" that "includes level shifters for whatever voltage levels you're using (ex. 3.3V, 5V, or other)."
Presumably, once the board is connected to the Raspberry Pi, the latter will gain the ability to act like a phone.
The SIM will have to come from your own phone though, or you'll have to buy a pre-paid SIM from a retailer or SparqEE themselves.
At the moment, the project is just in draft stage, right here. SparqEE will take it live on August 20, but wants to have as much support as possible when that happens. Until then, those interested can provide feedback.
In addition to Raspberry Pi, the Cellv1.0 will function with Arduino projects as well. In fact, SparqEE will include an Arduino-enabled vehicle tracker (it tells the smartphone where your car is) if enough people say they should.
If it gets the green light, the project will have the first shipments ready for November.