Gartner continue to play favorites and overlook both existing and new Symbian OS v9 features in its "First Take" analysis of Symbian OS v9.

Gartner: OS/9 includes almost no features for enterprises. Symbian’s evolution is driven by handset manufacturers and operators that target the consumer market. This is good for Symbian, because consumers make up the largest market, but not for enterprises.

SymbianOne Responds: Symbian OS v9 now includes significant device management capabilities. While these are clearly of use to operators they also address the needs of enterprise system administrators to manage and support devices in the field. Equally what security need does Data Caging fulfill in a game or music application? Gartner also completely overlook the fact that Nokia and Sony Ericsson have strong enterprise strategies and provide end-to-end enterprise solutions based on Symbian OS devices. SymbianOne also wonder which operators target enterprises rather than the mass consumer market as a priority.

Gartner: Improved security means a wider need for application signing and certification. This might inconvenience third-party or enterprise developers and will increase the importance of the "Symbian Signed" program, which Gartner believes is weak.

SymbianOne Responds: Symbian Signed includes a "self signing" ability which would allow enterprises to sign their own applications. While signing may be an "inconvenience," when compared to not having to sign applications, its a lot less "inconvenient" than the loss of data and productivity that could occur in an open environment.

Gartner: E-mail and calendaring still depend on licensees building a user interface on top of core features, and are not standardized across Symbian devices. This will make Symbian handsets more diverse and implementations more complex.

SymbianOne Responds: Symbian adds features to the OS because licensees request them. Both these capabilities have been identifiable "enterprise" weaknesses. SymbianOne would expect to see them implemented in UIQ and Series 60. Symbian OS handsets will be diverse, but enterprises are likely to have a larger pool of devices with common features at lower prices from Symbian OS licensees than other OS offerings.

Gartner: The operating system does not include built-in support for push-to-talk or instant messaging systems.

SymbianOne Responds: Symbian OS supports all the enabling capabilities for both IM and PPT. It is unclear why these two application features (available on Symbian OS devices) need to be built into the OS. It is perhaps just an expectation Gartner have based on the PC world.

SymbianOne believes Gartner's analysis of Symbian and Symbian OS remains weak. It is perhaps disappointing that an organization of Gartner's reputation is apparently unable to invest the appropriate time and resources to provide proper analysis for Symbian and Symbian OS. Perhaps their "Consider Take" will do a better job.

You can read Gartner's full "First Take" here.