Symbian Software

Symbian Software, formally Symbian Ltd., was a British software development and licensing consortium established in 1998 to create an advanced operating system for the emerging convergence of mobile phones and personal digital assistants. Its founding shareholders were Psion, Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, and Sony, with much of the original technology derived from Psion's 32-bit EPOC operating-system work. The company was also formed partly as an industry response to the possibility that Microsoft could extend its dominance in desktop computing into mobile devices. Symbian did not operate simply as a single handset brand. It developed and licensed a software platform consisting of an operating-system kernel, device drivers, development tools, and interface technologies. The company supported multiple user-interface layers so that manufacturers and licensees could adapt the underlying system to different types of devices. Early interface concepts included Pearl for smartphones, Quartz for pen-oriented personal digital assistants, and Crystal for clamshell or keyboard-focused devices. These concepts later informed Nokia's Series 60, Series 80, and Series 90 platforms, UIQ, and NTT DoCoMo's MOAP(S) environment. Symbian's licensees included Nokia, Ericsson-related businesses, Motorola, Samsung, Sony, Siemens, Sharp, Fujitsu, Matsushita, BenQ, Lenovo, and Arima. The company became one of the most important software suppliers in the early smartphone industry. Symbian OS powered a broad range of advanced mobile phones, including devices using Nokia's Series 60 platform and products associated with UIQ and other interface families. By the mid-2000s, Symbian's importance was closely tied to Nokia's global handset business. The company's ownership structure also evolved during this period. Motorola sold its interest in 2003, while Psion's stake was transferred to Nokia and other shareholders in 2004, leaving Nokia with the largest individual holding. On 24 June 2008, Nokia announced an agreement to acquire the shares in Symbian Ltd. that it did not already own for €264 million. Nokia completed the acquisition on 2 December 2008, and Symbian employees became Nokia employees. At the same time, Nokia announced the Symbian Foundation, intended to create a royalty-free and more openly available mobile software platform. Relevant assets, including Symbian OS and Nokia's S60 platform, were pledged to the foundation. Leases, trademarks, and domain names were transferred from Nokia to the foundation in April 2009, while Nokia retained a professional-services operation that it sold to Accenture in July 2009. Symbian Software's corporate identity therefore ended as its technology moved into a broader foundation and licensing structure. The platform subsequently faced intense competitive pressure from Apple's iPhone software and Google's Android. Nokia eventually shifted its smartphone strategy toward Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, and the last Symbian handset shipped in 2013. Accenture took over maintenance responsibilities for the remaining Symbian software, with support expected to continue for a limited period. Symbian Software is consequently a defunct company, although Symbian OS remains historically significant as one of the dominant mobile operating systems of the pre-iPhone smartphone era.

Symbian Software originated in Psion's effort to develop a 32-bit successor to EPOC, the operating system used in its personal digital assistants. Psion approached major mobile and electronics companies about turning that work into a shared platform capable of supporting the convergence of handheld computing and cellular communications. Symbian Ltd. was established on 24 June 1998 by Psion, Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, and Sony. Its strategic purpose was both technical and competitive: the partners wanted a common mobile operating system while reducing the likelihood that Microsoft's desktop-software dominance would be reproduced in mobile devices. The company developed more than a kernel. Its work covered device drivers, system components, development support, licensing, and several user-interface approaches. Psion's reference designs included Pearl for smartphone-style devices, Quartz for pen-based handhelds, and Crystal for clamshell or keyboard-oriented products. These designs were adapted by different partners rather than unified into one consumer-facing interface. Nokia developed Series 60 from Pearl and also created Series 80 and Series 90 from Crystal-related work. UIQ Technology, then associated with Symbian, developed UIQ from Quartz, while NTT DoCoMo used MOAP(S). The existence of multiple interface families allowed platform adaptation but also created strategic fragmentation, with partner ecosystems sometimes competing for similar device categories. Symbian expanded its ownership and licensee base during the early 2000s. Matsushita acquired a stake in 1999, followed by Siemens in 2002 and Samsung in 2003. Motorola sold its interest in 2003. In 2004, Psion proposed selling its 31.1 percent holding to Nokia. The proposal generated concern among other shareholders, particularly Sony Ericsson, because it would give Nokia much greater control over the platform. The transaction was ultimately completed with the stake distributed among Nokia, Matsushita, Siemens, and Sony Ericsson; Nokia held 47.9 percent afterward. Symbian OS became a leading operating system for advanced mobile phones. Its strongest commercial relationship was with Nokia, whose Series 60 platform helped make Symbian common across a large portfolio of smartphones and feature-rich handsets. The platform was also licensed or used by companies including Fujitsu, Lenovo, Matsushita, Motorola, Samsung, Sharp, Siemens, and Sony Mobile. By the late 2000s, however, the company was increasingly dependent on Nokia's handset strategy and execution. On 24 June 2008, exactly ten years after Symbian's formation, Nokia announced that it would buy the shares it did not already own for €264 million. Nokia also announced the Symbian Foundation, which was intended to make the platform royalty-free and support more rapid innovation. Nokia pledged Symbian OS and its S60 assets to the foundation. The acquisition closed on 2 December 2008, after which all Symbian employees became Nokia employees. In April 2009, relevant leases, trademarks, and domain names were transferred from Nokia to the foundation. Nokia's professional-services department, which had not been transferred, was sold to Accenture on 18 July 2009. The corporate restructuring coincided with a major change in the mobile operating-system market. Apple's iPhone and Google's Android introduced software experiences and development models that challenged Symbian's established position. Nokia eventually chose Windows Phone as the principal direction for its smartphones, reducing the strategic role of Symbian. The final Symbian handset shipped in 2013. Accenture assumed responsibility for maintaining the remaining platform for a limited period, while the former foundation continued in a restricted licensing and legal role. Symbian Software itself therefore ceased to operate as an independent company, but its technology remains an important part of mobile-computing history.

1. 2013The last Symbian handset ships

   Nokia ships its final Symbian handset as it moves its smartphone strategy toward Windows Phone.

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2. 2009Symbian assets transfer to the foundation

   Relevant leases, trademarks, and domain names move from Nokia to the Symbian Foundation.

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3. 2009Professional services are sold to Accenture

   Nokia sells the Symbian professional-services department that remained outside the foundation to Accenture.

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4. 2008Nokia announces full acquisition

   Nokia announces a €264 million transaction to acquire the shares of Symbian Ltd. that it does not already own.

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5. 2008Nokia completes the acquisition

   The acquisition closes on 2 December, ending Symbian Ltd.'s independence and transferring its employees to Nokia.

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6. 2004Nokia becomes the largest shareholder

   Psion's holding is redistributed among Nokia, Matsushita, Siemens, and Sony Ericsson, leaving Nokia with 47.9 percent.

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7. 2003Samsung acquires a stake and Motorola exits

   Samsung takes a 5 percent holding, while Motorola sells its interest to Psion and Nokia.

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8. 2002Siemens acquires a stake

   Siemens becomes a shareholder with a 5 percent holding.

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9. 1999Matsushita joins the shareholder group

   Matsushita acquires an 8.8 percent stake, adding another major electronics manufacturer to the consortium.

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10. 1998Symbian Ltd. is founded

    Psion, Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, and Sony establish Symbian Ltd. to develop and license an operating system for converging PDA and mobile-phone markets.

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Mobile operating-system developer and licensing consortium serving handset manufacturers and other mobile-device businesses.

• Symbian OSMobile operating system1998

  Symbian OS was the company's principal software platform for advanced mobile phones and personal digital assistants. It combined a kernel with device drivers, system services, development support, and interface frameworks. The operating system was designed to support multiple hardware types and manufacturer-specific user experiences, allowing licensees to build smartphones and related handheld devices on a common technical base. It became particularly associated with Nokia's smartphone portfolio before losing ground to iOS and Android.

• PearlSmartphone reference interface

  Pearl was one of Symbian's early reference interface designs, aimed at smartphone-style devices. Nokia used it as the basis for its Series 60 platform, which became one of the most widely deployed Symbian interface environments. Pearl represented Symbian's effort to separate the operating-system core from adaptable interface layers for different device categories.

• QuartzPDA reference interface

  Quartz was a Symbian reference design oriented toward pen-based, Palm-like personal digital assistants. UIQ Technology developed the UIQ interface from this design. Its inclusion reflected Symbian's original ambition to serve both mobile phones and handheld computers rather than only conventional telephone handsets.

• CrystalClamshell and keyboard-device reference interface

  Crystal was intended for clamshell and keyboard-focused handheld devices. Nokia developed Series 80 and Series 90 platforms from Crystal-related work. The design demonstrated Symbian's support for device forms that differed substantially from the compact smartphone format that later became dominant.

• Series 60Mobile user-interface platform

  Series 60, later commonly known as S60, was Nokia's principal Symbian user-interface and application platform. Derived from the Pearl reference design, it provided a standardized environment for Nokia smartphones and for devices from other licensees. Its broad handset deployment made it the most commercially visible Symbian interface family.

• UIQMobile user-interface platform

  UIQ was a pen-oriented user-interface platform developed by UIQ Technology, a Symbian-associated subsidiary. It was used for touch and stylus-focused devices and later expanded toward more conventional keyboard phones, creating overlap with Nokia's Series 60 ecosystem. UIQ was one of several interface environments built on Symbian OS.

• 2013Nokia ends Symbian handset productionStrategy

  The rise of Apple's iPhone and Google's Android weakened Symbian's position and contributed to Nokia's declining mobile-market share.

  What changed. Nokia shifted its smartphone strategy toward Windows Phone and shipped its final Symbian handset in 2013.

  Aftermath. Symbian lost its principal commercial backer and entered maintenance and licensing decline.

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• 2009Sale of professional services to AccentureM&A

  The professional-services department was not transferred with the other Symbian assets to the foundation.

  What changed. Nokia sold the department to Accenture on 18 July 2009.

  Aftermath. Accenture became responsible for the associated professional-services and later maintenance activities.

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• 2008Nokia moves to acquire Symbian Ltd.M&A

  Nokia was already Symbian's largest shareholder and wanted unified control of the platform as mobile operating-system competition intensified.

  What changed. Nokia announced a €264 million purchase of the shares it did not already own and completed the transaction on 2 December 2008.

  Aftermath. Symbian ceased to be an independent company, its employees joined Nokia, and platform assets were subsequently transferred to the Symbian Foundation.

  Acquisition consideration. €264 million (Announced 24 June 2008)

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• 2008Creation of the Symbian FoundationStrategy

  Nokia and its partners sought to make Symbian more broadly available and to accelerate development through a shared, royalty-free platform.

  What changed. Nokia announced the foundation and pledged Symbian OS and its S60 platform to the new organization.

  Aftermath. The foundation became the vehicle for the platform's open and licensing framework, while Symbian Software's corporate operations were absorbed into Nokia.

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• 2013Nokia ends its Symbian handset era

  Nokia shipped its last Symbian handset as the company shifted its smartphone strategy toward Windows Phone amid competition from iOS and Android.

  Product generation
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• 2009Symbian assets move to the Symbian Foundation

  Leases, trademarks, and domain names associated with Symbian Software were transferred from Nokia to the Symbian Foundation, while Nokia retained its professional-services department.

  Other
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• 2009Nokia sells Symbian professional-services operation to Accenture

  Nokia sold the Symbian professional-services department that had not moved to the Symbian Foundation to Accenture.

  M&A
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• 2008Nokia announces acquisition of Symbian Ltd. and creation of Symbian Foundation

  Nokia announced plans to acquire the shares it did not already own for €264 million and simultaneously announced a foundation intended to provide royalty-free Symbian software and accelerate platform development.

  M&A
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• 2008Nokia completes acquisition of Symbian Ltd.

  The acquisition closed on 2 December 2008, and Symbian employees became Nokia employees.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2004Psion agrees to sell its Symbian stake

  Psion, the originator of much of Symbian's technology, sought to sell its holding. The transaction was completed with shares redistributed among Nokia, Matsushita, Siemens, and Sony Ericsson, leaving Nokia with the largest stake.

  M&A
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• 2003Motorola sells its Symbian holding

  Motorola sold its stake to Psion and Nokia, changing the balance of ownership among the consortium members.

  Other
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• 2002Siemens and Samsung take stakes in Symbian

  Siemens and later Samsung acquired minority holdings as the Symbian platform expanded its manufacturer base.

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• 1999Additional manufacturers acquire Symbian shares

  Matsushita joined the shareholder group, broadening participation in Symbian beyond its original founding companies.

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• 1998Symbian Ltd. is established by mobile and computing companies

  Psion, Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, and Sony established Symbian Ltd. to develop a common operating-system platform for advanced mobile devices and personal digital assistants.

  Other
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• 1998Motorola joins the Symbian consortium

  Motorola acquired a stake in the consortium shortly after its formation, becoming one of the principal industry participants in the platform.

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1. Symbian Software
2. Symbian Foundation
3. Symbian