The Symbian Foundation
Providing a royalty-free open mobile platform!
All signs seem to indicate that Google's Android endeavor via the Open Handset Alliance is poised to change the landscape in the mobile space by offering an open-source mobile OS. However, that's not to say they won't have some open-source competition from some major players.
Earlier this week, the creation of The Symbian Foundation was announced. Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, and NTT DOCOMO - each of whom currently develop and utilize an OS 'flavor' based on Symbian - will all contribute technology and resources with the intention of developming a full, royalty-free platform for all members of the Foundation to use.
In addition to those mentioned above, members include AT&T, Orange, Texas Instruments, T-Mobile and Vodafone and more.
Symbian OS-based devices are the clear leader worldwide in units with more than 200 million phones, across 235 models currently available.
“Nokia is a strong supporter of open platforms and technologies as they give the freedom to build, maintain and evolve applications and services across device segments and offer by far the largest ecosystem, enabling rapid innovation. Today’s announcement is a major milestone in our devices software strategy.” - Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO, Nokia
“Ten years ago, Symbian was established by far sighted players to offer an advanced open operating system and software skills to the whole mobile industry. Our vision is to become the most widely used software platform on the planet and indeed today Symbian OS leads its market by any measure. Today's announcement is a bold new step to achieve that vision by embracing a complete and proven platform, offered in an open way, designed to stimulate innovation which is at the heart of everything we do.” - Nigel Clifford, CEO, Symbian
The Symbian Foundation Press Release (PDF)
