Abstract
In June 2008, Nokia announced that it plans to buy all shares of Symbian it
does not already own. In the future, the S60, UIQ, and MOAP interfaces will be
integrated into a unified development platform, user interface and development
tool. Furthermore, Nokia will transfer the Symbian OS and related patents to
the newly established Symbian Foundation and will use the Eclipse Public
License 1.0 model for licensing. This report will analyze the strategic
implications of Nokia' s takeover of Symbian, and will examine the effect it
will have on the future development of the mobile phone industry.
Table of Contents
1. Unifying UI and Platform Framework to Improve User Experience
- 1.1 UI Integration to Remove Previously Existing Disparateness
- 1.2 Open Source Model Creates More Room for Third-party Software Companies
to Join
- 1.3 New Symbian OS Will Create Friendlier Operating Interfaces
2. Competition between Symbian and Other Platforms
- 2.1 Android to Be First Major Adversary
- 2.2 Symbian to Compete with Microsoft in the Prosumer Segment
- 2.3 Symbian Will Be Hard-pressed to Seriously Challenge Apple and RIM' s
Market Position
3. Strategic Implications for the Mobile Phone Industry
- 3.1 Nokia to Enhance Influence of Symbian
- 3.2 Implications for Other Major Mobile Phone Vendors
- 3.3 Providing a New Window of Opportunity for Japanese Vendors to Develop
Overseas Markets
- 3.4 Maintaining Core Competitiveness and Product Differentiation Is Key
MIC Perspective
List of Figures
- Figure 1. Worldwide Smartphone Operating System Market Share, 2007
List of Tables
- Table 1. Three Major Operating Systems/Development Platforms and Partner
Companies
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