With a strong move that pits Nokia strongly against Google, and Apple, the world's largest mobile device manufacturer, (Nokia is currently responsible for around 60% of the of the world's smartphone market), has joined forces with other mobility heavyweights to create an open mobile software platform centered on the Symbian operating system. Nokia will acquire the remaining 52 percent stake in Symbian Ltd. that it doesn't already own for a price tag of roughly $410 million.
Although the free Symbian project will not start till 2009, it may beat the Google-backed Android phone to market, and provide a royalty-free phone that will build on a large existing installed base. With AT&T as a prominent backer, the move could also give Nokia a stronger position in the U.S. market where Symbian has so far struggled. Symbian, is hugely popular throughout Europe, and controls around two-thirds of the market for smartphone operating systems
Currently, there are more than 200 million phones across 235 models that are based on the Symbian OS, along with tens of thousands of third-party applications available for it.
Google Android and the Open Handset Alliance comprise more than 30 partners, including heavyweights like Sprint (NYSE:S), T-Mobile and China Mobile. It was reported that Android has been plagued by setbacks however, Google is adamant that its Android plans remain on schedule and devices based on Android will be available in the second half of this year.
Apple raised the bar with the launch of the iPhone. A sleek touch screen user interface, coupled with the ability to browse the mobile web has been embraced by smartphone consumers. Apple has always been the master of integrating hardware and software. They've understood the critical importance of the user interface - making their produces intuitive and easy to use as well as attractive. Now Nokia also has an integrated software and hardware platform coupled with a strong developer platform and will be a formidable worldwide competitor.
Whether the Symbian Foundation will be successful remains to be seen - as The Register suggests The most damaging problem is that Symbian's licensees may have no desire to make Nokia stronger now that it owns the operation 100 per cent. Because it dominates the "platform" already by market share, the playing field tips steeply towards Finland. Why bother joining - to make the market leader even stronger?
Om Malik at GigaOm (good to see is recovering well from a recent heart attack) has a good summary on the "new mobile reality" and thinks that LiMo, Symbian, and Apple have the best chance of "winning big," with Android and Microsoft fighting for that remaining spot at the table. Where RIM ends up remains the subject of much speculation.
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