Nokia announces the world's first Symbian-based communicator

Nokia 9210 Communicator is the world's first device to be based on Symbian's open programmable software platform

PRAGUE - November 21st, 2000 - Nokia has today announced the first Symbian-based communicator - the Nokia 9210. The Nokia 9210 is the world's first next generation mobile phone to be based on the Symbian platform v6.0 - an open software platform that has been designed to enable third party developers to write powerful additional applications, services and content for users.

The Nokia 9210 demonstrates the advantages of developing next generation mobile phones on the standard Symbian platform. Optimised for mobile internet access with WAP and HTML browsers, messaging with email and SMS applications, intuitive personal information management systems and a range of other applications, synchronization and connectivity features, the Nokia 9210 represents Nokia's continuing drive to target the Mobile Information Society with mobile phones that provide easy and intuitive voice and messaging communications.

"Only the Symbian platform provides the robust mobile operating system that has real-time capabilities to be the platform for Nokia's new generation of communicators and advanced mobile phones, as well as offers a versatile range of related applications" said Jouko Häyrynen, Vice President, Markets and Business Development, Nokia Mobile Phones "The Nokia 9210 Communicator is the first in a range of devices that Nokia will be bringing to market based on the Symbian platform."

Users of the Nokia 9210 will be able to benefit from a wide range of additional applications and services currently under development by third-party software developers. Symbian has 35,000 registered developers and recently unveiled its latest v6.0 technology earlier this month at a packed Developers Expo in London UK. Third-party software developers, content and service providers can register free of charge to download the Java and C++ software development kits issued at this Developers Expo from the  Symbian Developer Network

"Since the formation of Symbian we've focused on delivering our 'convergence' platform, closely integrating mobile phone technology with mobile computing capabilities, to drive a wide-range of next generation mobile phones from our many licensees. Having shipped Symbian platform v6.0 to licensees last quarter we're delighted to see Nokia now announcing the Nokia 9210 - the world's first Symbian based Communicator," said Colly Myers, CEO, Symbian. "The Nokia 9210 is the first device of many to take advantage of our open platform approach, enabling third party companies to deliver additional applications, services and content to all users of Symbian-based devices."

The Symbian platform

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.

Symbian currently licenses three reference designs - one for keyboard-based Communicators, one for PDA-type Communicators, and one designed for Smartphones with smaller screens - to enable licensees to rapidly bring to market a wide range of mobile phone devices based on the same generic technology.

With 80% of the code common to all reference designs, the Symbian platform provides an ideal opportunity for third party developers who want to write applications and services to take advantage of the rapidly growing mobile phone market - in 2003 alone it is expected that there will be 1 billion mobile phone subscribers.

About Symbian

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. 
Symbian

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