Symbian signs Sanyo

Sanyo joins Ericsson, Matsushita, Motorola, Nokia, Psion, Philips and Sony in developing Symbian based phones

London, UK – August 18, 2000 – It was announced today that Symbian has licensed its software platform to Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: SANYY), a $17 billion manufacturer and distributor of consumer and commercial electronics and electric products. Sanyo intends to develop a range of advanced mobile communication devices based on the Symbian software platform – designed to tightly integrate cellular phone functionality with mobile computing.

“We’re focusing on developing mobile communicators for the growing information network market,” commented Dr. Tsugufumi Matsuoka, General Manager, Sanyo. “Symbian provides a unique mix of expertise and technology, and has set the standard software platform for next generation mobile phones. With the combination of our consumer electronics experience, and Symbian’s robust leading edge technology and telecoms integration, we’ll be able to develop communicators that will work across a variety of networks.”

The Symbian platform provides an operating system, system layer, application engines and user interfaces that are designed for a wide range of smartphones and communicators. Incorporating leading technologies such as Java, Bluetooth^® wireless technology and WAP, Symbian has already licensed the platform to industry leaders such as Ericsson, Matsushita, Motorola, Nokia, Philips, Psion and Sony.

“We’re working with industry leaders to create a standard platform that offers unparalleled computing and telecommunications integration for smartphones and communicators,” commented Jeremy Copp, VP, Business Relationships, Symbian. “As our latest licensee, Sanyo will extend the global choice and diversity of wireless devices that are available for mobile users, and encourage the development of Symbian based content and services in the wireless industry.”

About Sanyo

The Sanyo group currently numbers 149 companies in 27 countries outside Japan, staffed with over 50,000 employees. Overseas sales accounted for approximately 47.4% of total consolidated sales.

As a truly global group, SANYO promotes research and development, manufacturing, and marketing as close as possible to the markets in deals in.

Accordingly, our fields of business are extensive and range from key components essential for multimedia systems such as batteries, LCDs and semiconductors, to digital cameras, cellular phones.
Sanyo

About Symbian

ymbian owns, develops and licenses a software platform for next generation mobile phones. Owned by Ericsson, Matsushita, 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 services, and messaging and enterprise wide solutions.

With headquarters in London, Symbian has offices in Tokyo and Kanazawa, Japan; Ronneby, Sweden; Cambridge, UK and San Francisco Bay Area, USA. Symbian’s web site can be found at Symbian

Media Enquiries

Please direct enquiries to: Symbian Ltd +44 207 154 1383 press@symbian.com

Masaaki Meguro Manager Sanyo +81 3 5803 3417 ma-meguro@rd.sanyo.co.jp