This post is long due, but like they say - better late then never. Following the AirJaldi conference (end of October 2006) David Rowe came to visit us in Dharamsala, all the way from far Australia.   David is leading a unique and exceptionally important project of revolutionary potential: Free Telephony Project While many of us are still getting used to, and learning the concept of Free / Open Source Software (F/OSS), David's project introduces additional confusion, yet equally innovative concept: Open-Source-Hardware

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I'm not in a position to contemplate on the possible business models, which can and should ensure the financial sustainability of such projects, I'm convinced of David's project ability to play a substantial role in providing affordable telephony to rural areas in developing nations. I'm also getting very good vibes as to the high quality of the technology and the product.
David's thoughts about the open-source-hardware are inspiring: http://www.rowetel.com/blog/?p=14 as well as some of the comments below:
"IBM had a one time open hardware platform also. It was in 1982 called the IBM PC. it developed some further businesses (Microsoft is one)."

While we already make extensive use of VoIP telephony here in Dharamsala over our wireless mesh network, David's products can offer substantial decrease in setup and maintenance costs, while on the same time increase reliability of the system and offer easy and affordable scalability path.
Specially interesting for Dharamsala, as well as for other rural communities, are solutions for lowering the cost of the VoIP telephone. The telephones are commonly the element baring the heavier price tag of an overall VoIP system. Initiatives and ideas such as the $10 ATAs are therefor very attractive and should be explored further.