Open Source On Symbian OS? - We all know that open source is an important part of the global software industry. It not just about enthusiasts beavering away in their home office: It's a multinational multimillion dollar industry, with most of the major projects funded by IT companies and engaging developers full time.

Now Symbian wants to be part of that action, and this is one of the key reasons for the introduction of P.I.P.S, or P.I.P.S is POSIX on Symbian. Symbian OS is no stranger to open source applications, after all the Nokia Web Browser (seen on the latest S60 3rd Edition devices) is based on Apple's open source WebKit. Then there is Ruby and Python, and a host of smaller projects.

While there are undoubtedly many open source projects that would work well on a Symbian smartphone there are also dangers. The Nokia Web Browser graphically illustrates these dangers. Nokia touts it as providing the user with an experience similar to their desktop brower – but is this what is really needed on a smartphone? For all its slick feature the Nokia Web Browser is quite inconvenient when it come to actually reading content off a Web page. The reader has to constantly scroll left and right, as well as down, if the content does not fit, in a readable form, on their device's screen. While the Opera browser is not perfect, its narrow screen rendering seems a much better solution to the problem. So here is the danger, that a range of PC software makes it onto Symbian phones without any real consideration of the best way to present information on a small screen, input data with a small keyboard, and allow for the fact that the user pays for data by the byte.

The success of P.I.P.S. should be measured not by the number of open source projects that arrive on Symbian OS, but the number of open source projects which are usable on Symbian smartphone. But if there is one thing the open source community rises to, it is a challenge.

Read more about P.I.P.S. in this interview with Erik Jacobson, Product Manager at Symbian

Quickoffice® Sets New Standard for Symbian Smartphone Productivity with Launch of Quickoffice v4 - Quickoffice, the world leader in providing office document software for mobile devices, has launched Quickoffice v4 for S60, a major upgrade to its award-winning solution. Named Best Enterprise Application in the Forum Nokia S60 3rd Edition Challenge, Quickoffice v4 builds on the highly successful previous releases and was chosen by Nokia as the exclusive mobile office suite deployed on S60 3rd Edition

SysOpen Digia establishes Senior Advisers Team for executive management strategic consulting - SysOpen Digia Plc has established a new expert unit to consult companies’ executive management in ICT strategy selection and business development through new technologies. This unit started operations as a workgroup of six experts of various business sectors.

More than 750 Companies Join Nokia for Business Channel Program to Deliver Business Mobility - Nokia (NYSE:NOK), a world leader in mobile communications, announced today that more than 750 mobility, business voice and security companies worldwide have joined the Nokia for Business Channel Program since its introduction just three months ago.

Symbian OS News updates

• Mobile communication is revolutionizing economic and social development in rural India


• DDH Software Launches its Acclaimed HanDBase® Relational Database for S60 3rd Edition Devices


• Zi Corporation to unveil new versions of Qix at 3GSM in Barcelona


• Mobile Commerce, Desktop Search and Mobile Remote Access Converge in New Free EasyReach Service


• Nokia Intellisync Wireless Email available for Sony Ericsson M600 and P990


• Symbian opens office in China – world’s largest mobile market


• Nokia Charges up users with Nokia USB Charger


• The Mobile Digital TV Alliance Publishes White Paper Discussing The Economics of Mobile TV


• Worldwide Mobile Phones Propelled Past One Billion Unit Mark


• Talaris opens up new opportunities in mobile entertainment


• CTIA WIRELESS 2007 to Spotlight Advances in the Wireless Enterprise


• mdog.com Provides smartphone Users With the Largest Mobile Source of Real-Time News

LBS News updates

• Navicore brings award-winning mobile navigation experience to Nokia N800 Internet Tablet


• Ruggedized Devices: the Perfect Companion for Field Professionals - an intro for the novice


• Graphic Technologies, Inc. Releases Version 7.0 of GTViewer


• ProLink Brand Expands Its Global Reach to Portugal and Dubai


• Trimble Introduces New Lightbar Guidance System with Large Color Display


• Registration for Where 2.0 Opens Soon

Interested in more LBS news and resources? Visit our friends at LBSzone.com

Symbian introduces POSIX libraries on Symbian OS - At the official opening event of its Beijing office, Symbian Ltd announced the introduction of POSIX libraries on Symbian OS™, which will significantly reduce the effort required to migrate existing desktop and server components, and mobile applications from other platforms, onto Symbian OS.

Jupitermedia’s JupiterWeb Division Announces the Winners of Developer.com Product of the Year Awards - The winners were nominated and selected by the users of Developer.com (www.developer.com). Under the category of Web Service Product of the Year the familiar Google Maps API took the award (no huge surprise and definitely a boon for geospatial technologies).

Have you left your mark yet? A reminder about the UIQ Open - There's no better way to kick start your application then by gaining recognition from the industry at large. One such opportunity that exists for application developers is the UIQ Open - a competition in search of the most creative UIQ applications. Categories for apps include Business, Mobility, Lifestyle, Utilities, and Entertainment... Good Luck!



Read Your Favorite Mobile Technology Blogs, News, and RSS Feeds - Looking for more news, tips, commentary, and blogger discussions? Check out these excellent feeds for more on wireless technologies and mobile application development. Got a feed to share? Please tell us about it

From Sony Ericsson Developer World...

• New M3G Exporter plug-in for Milkshape 3D
• More docs available in Chinese - Eleven new docs are available for download covering Java™ ME CLDC, Mobile JUnit testing, SVG, Ringtones, MMS, Flash Lite™ and Mobile Java 3D gaming
• More UIQ 3 app examples - The new additions include apps from Agile Mobile, CellPhoneSoft, DreamSpring, Kylom, Mobile Systems and WebGate
• 2006 in review - Mikael Nerde, Head of Sony Ericsson Developer World, looks back at 2006 by sharing his thoughts on key Sony Ericsson Developer World activities

New at Forum.Nokia...

• S60 Platform: Power and Resource Management Example v2.0
• Carbide.ui S60 Theme Edition 3.1 for Symbian OS
• S60 Platform: ECom Plug-In Examples v2.0
• S60 Platform: Dealing with Lead and Device-Specific Features in C++ v1.1
• MIDP: Bluetooth API Developer's Guide v2.0

New in the SymbianOne Downloads...

• Smartphones Show video podcast 22 - W950i Review
• Sony Ericsson application Shop
• Screenshot for Symbian OS
• Screenshot for Symbian OS (UIQ)
• Vox - Video, photo sharing and blog posting

The SymbianOne Career Center - Browse the current opportunities available for wireless developers and symbian programmers. Don't see a job you like? Looking for a developer? Send details to us at SymbianOne and we'll list your announcement right here in the newsletter... best of all this is a FREE service.

• Symbian Developer Barcelona/Spain - Codilink S.L. is a fast growing mobile marketing company with clients in Spain, UK, Mexico and USA including names like Audi, Damm, Nokia, Frigo, Daily Telegraph, SEAT, Starbucks and many others.
• Symbian Developer - Irving TX
• Symbian Contractor - Remote Work Possible
• Senior/Principal Software Engineer
• Symbian Expert

Link to SymbianOne.com - have you added a link to SymbianOne from your web site yet? To make things a bit easier for you, we've included a small graphic [below] that you are welcome to use.

Software Applications for the Sony Ericsson W950

Suggested Application... Advanced Call Manager for Sony Ericsson P990/M600/W950 - Advanced Call Manager unique feature is the ultra-fast recognition of remote callers which allows personalized replies (SMS, mute, reject, accept, divert) to be attributed within a part of a second leaving the caller unaware of your current availability.

• WorldMate 2006 Professional Edition for UIQ
• ProfiMail (Symbian)
• Handy Tools Pro for UIQ 3.0
• Handy Safe for UIQ 3.0
• Sony Ericsson Media Studio 2.5

Five reasons to develop for Sony Ericsson UIQ 3-based phones - UIQ 3 is maturing fast. The platform took a major step forward during June and July 2006 as the first, eagerly anticipated UIQ 3-based phones are now on the market: the Sony Ericsson P990 and M600. The "wait and see" phase is over. Here are five reasons why developing for Sony Ericsson's UIQ 3-based phones is a smart business move.

SmartPhone Summit
Several lucky pre-registered attendees will once again win brand new smartphones from top wireless sponsors and speakers of the Smartphone Summit!
Orlando, FL
March 26-29, 2007

Wireless Innovation Contest (WIC 07)
The Wireless Innovation Contest focuses on driving wireless adoption in North America. We are looking for wireless excellence, innovative solutions for real issues in today’s diverse world for work, play, and our communities. We would like to showcase real solutions, with leading edge technologies robustly in action – simple and easy to deploy.
Winners to be announced at CTIA Wireless, March, 2007

Where 2.0 2007
Its still a few months away but heavy into the planning stages already. If you want to catch THE event on creating value in your business from location and location enabling technologies then Where 2.0 is a must attend.
May 29-30 ,2007
San Jose, CA

Request the 2007 SymbianOne Rate Card & Media Kit - Promote your application, device, or services using online banner ads, newsletter sponsorship, or direct email to thousands of mobile technology professionals. Reach thousands of developers and mobile industry architects... Interested in reaching a large, targeted audience of mobile developers, enthusiasts, and wireless technology professionals? Contact us for more information and sponsorship information - info[at]symbianone.com. We can offer you a very competitive, focused campaign. Interested in email a targeted list rental? Contact us for more info.

News Archive | Articles | Reviews | Device Gallery | Free Downloads | Discussion Forums | Tradepubs | Books | Event Calendar | Shop | Community | Advertise