Expanding the Wireless Cellular Market with the Mobile Internet

Expanding the Wireless Cellular Market with the Mobile Internet Symbian partner Motorola today announced the development of a smartphone with Palm to extend its product range in 2002. This development will help broaden the range and market for smartphones and Communicators, including phone-pad and keyboard-based products, adding to the wireless mobile market that Symbian is driving. Motorola, along with Ericsson, Nokia, Matsushita (Panasonic), Psion and Sanyo are all developing Symbian phone-pad and keyboard-based Communicators while Ericsson, Nokia, Matsushita and Sony are all developing Symbian smartphones. "The first Symbian-based smartphone, the Ericsson R380, is now shipping," said Colly Myers, CEO, Symbian. "With some 20 different smartphones and Communicators already in development by our licensees, we are Anticipating that a wide range of Symbian-based phones will come to market during 2001." "Motorola remains committed as a shareholder, active participant and licensee of Symbian. Motorola also confirms its commitment to the joint development programme with Psion scheduled to deliver phone-pad products in 2001," said Al Zabarsky, Corporate Vice-President, Personal Communications Sector, Motorola Inc. "Symbian is owned by the wireless and computing industry leaders to promote the rapid development of smartphones and communicators. The Ericsson R380 is the world?s first smartphone to come to market based on the Symbian platform," said Jan Ahrenbring, Vice President Marketing and Communications at Ericsson Mobile Communications. "Using the power and flexibility of the Symbian platform, Ericsson is also building a range of other devices to be introduced later into the market." "The Symbian platform provides the robustness and functionality that is essential for 3G devices," said Mr. Koki Suda, Director and Member of the Board, Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., "With support for key standards built into the platform, including SD memory card, Panasonic has adopted the Symbian platform for its next generation of Smartphones and Communicators." "Nokia reiterates its support for the Symbian platform and looks forward to launching its first Symbian-powered products during 2001. Nokia is committed to producing a variety of Smartphone and Communicator products based on the Symbian platform. Among these will be a Smartphone using Symbian?s Pearl platform." "Nokia?s vision of the Mobile Information Society is based on key standards that will drive the mass market. Core to this vision is the Symbian platform," said Mikko Terho, Senior Vice-President, Mobile Internet Architecture, Nokia Mobile Phones. "Symbian provides the real-time performance and functionality for next-generation mobile phones and allows us to build a range of wireless terminals." "The Symbian platform offers unique functionality for the mobile internet for consumers and across the enterprise. We are excited by the potential of the range of new Psion products we will be launching in 2001," said David Levin, CEO, Psion. The 32-bit architecture of the Symbian platform has been specifically designed to support the demanding utility and performance required of the emerging wireless information device category. Version 6.0 of Symbian?s software platform, designed for phone-pad and keyboard-based Communicators, was shipped to licensees last week. Fully integrating data and voice in wireless products, Symbian platform v6.0 includes WAP 1.1, HTML, Bluetooth, and wireless Java. Symbian will add support for packet data on GSM networks (GPRS), enhanced Bluetooth and WAP 1.2 functionality in Symbian platform v6.1, scheduled for release to licensees by the end of this year. With these technologies, and the robust Symbian operating system that has been designed for the first generation of integrated data and voice products, Symbian is enabling its licensees to rapidly bring to market a wide range of Smartphones, phone-pad and keyboard based Communicators. ENDS ? Notes for editors PCiA GlobalXchange Senior management from Symbian will be attending PCiA GlobalXchange in Chicago this week, at Symbian?s stand #3142. Press and Analysts may arrange interviews by emailing Heather Brockett, at heather.brockett@symbian.com or by calling +44 20 7563 2791 Symbian Developer Expo Symbian is holding a Developer Expo, focusing on version 6 of its platform, in central London, November 6th-7th. Sponsored by BrainDock, Nokia and Sun Microsystems, attendees can hear keynotes from Colly Myers, CEO Symbian, Hans Snook, CEO Orange and Charles Dunstone, CEO Carphone Warehouse as well as workshops, demos and presentations from other partners. For more information see www.symbian.com/devexpo Ericsson is the leading communications supplier, combining innovation in mobility and Internet in creating the new era of Mobile Internet. Ericsson provides total solutions covering everything from systems and applications to mobile phones and other communications tools. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for customers all over the world. Read more at http://www.ericsson.com/pressroom Symbian owns, develops and licenses a software platform for next generation mobile phones. Owned by Ericsson, Matsushita (Panasonic), Motorola, Nokia and Psion, Symbian?s mission is to license the Symbian platform to all mobile phone manufacturers and to create a mass market for next generation mobile phones by working closely with wireless networks, content, messaging and enterprise wide solution providers. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Paul Cockerton Head of Marketing Communications Symbian paul.cockerton@symbian.com +44 20 563 2000 Jan Ahrenbring Vice President Marketing and Communications Ericsson Mobile Communications AB +46 70 590 9900 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/09/25/20000925BIT00580/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/09/25/20000925BIT00580/bit0002.pdf