Articles

Symbian (London) has publicly launched its fully integrated, open software platform. The Symbian platform v6.0 is optimised for pen- and keyboard based communicators, delivering integrated mobile phone technology with email, SMS, WAP, HTML and other messaging and browsing capabilities to suit all types of end-users -- consumers, professional or enterprise. Products from licensees based on the Symbian platform v6.0 are expected to ship during the first half of 2001.

The Symbian platform provides core compatibility for third-party applications, content and services. Symbian provides reference designs based around common Generic Technology components that provide powerful and robust services-- the multi-tasking EPOC kernel, data management, communications, graphics, multimedia, security, application engines, messaging engine, browser engines for WAP and HTML, Java runtime environment, and support for data synchronization and worldwide locales. These reference designs are licensed to leading handset and mobile computing manufacturers to enable them to rapidly bring to market next generation mobile phones.

Two reference designs - with fully integrated voice capabilities central to their design and optimized for different form factors, have been released today:
-- Keyboard communicators: code named `Crystal', this reference design is for mobile phone devices with 640x200 color screen, keyboard operation, a graphical user interface evolved from previous keyboard communicators and a rich, integrated, application suite optimized for mobile professionals.

-- Tablet communicators: code named `Quartz' and previewed earlier this year. This reference design is for devices with 240x320 color screen, pen operation, a new user-friendly graphical interface, and powerful integrated application suite. Combining all the features of a hand-held PDA with a phone, Quartz offers easy and attractive viewing of rich media data and information.

Edited by Winn Hardin
Managing Editor, Wireless Design Online