Symbian Foundation
{{Short description|Non-profit organisation}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Symbian Foundation Ltd.
| logo = Symbian logo 4.svg
| logo_size = 250px
| type = non-profit organisation
| foundation = 24 June 2008
| founder = Nokia
Sony Ericsson
NTT DoCoMo
Motorola
Texas Instruments
Vodafone
LG Electronics
Samsung Electronics
STMicroelectronics
AT&T
| location = London, United Kingdom
| predecessor = Symbian Ltd
| area_served = Worldwide
| products = The Symbian platform
| industry = Open mobile software platform
| homepage = [http://blog.symbian.org/ symbian.org]
| defunct = April 2011
}}
The Symbian Foundation was a non-profit organisation that stewarded the Symbian operating system for mobile phones which previously had been owned and licensed by Symbian Ltd. Symbian Foundation never directly developed the platform, but evangelised, co-ordinated and ensured compatibility. It also provided key services to its members and the community such as collecting, building and distributing Symbian source code. During its time it competed against the Open Handset Alliance and the LiMo Foundation.
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Operational phase (2009-2010)
The Foundation was founded by Nokia, Sony Ericsson, NTT DoCoMo, Motorola, Texas Instruments, Vodafone, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, STMicroelectronics and AT&T.{{cite press release |title=Mobile leaders to unify the Symbian software platform and set the future of mobile free |url=http://press.nokia.com/2008/06/24/mobile-leaders-to-unify-the-symbian-software-platform-and-set-the-future-of-mobile-free/ |publisher=Nokia |date=24 June 2008 |access-date=9 April 2011 |archive-date=25 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325025959/http://press.nokia.com/2008/06/24/mobile-leaders-to-unify-the-symbian-software-platform-and-set-the-future-of-mobile-free/ |url-status=dead }} Due to a change in their device strategy, LG and Motorola left the Foundation board soon after its creation. They were later replaced by Fujitsu[http://www.fujitsu.com/global/news/pr/archives/month/2009/20091029-01.html Symbian Foundation Welcomes Fujitsu as New Board Member : Fujitsu Global] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127091053/http://www.fujitsu.com/global/news/pr/archives/month/2009/20091029-01.html |date=27 January 2010 }}. Fujitsu.com. Retrieved 2013-12-08. and Qualcomm Innovation Center.[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/qualcomm-innovation-center-joins-the-symbian-foundation-67131667.html Qualcomm Innovation Center Joins the Symbian Foundation - SAN DIEGO and LONDON, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/]. Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
During its operational phase (from 2009 to 2010), it also provided:
- platform development kits and tools
- documentation and example code
- discussion forums and mailing lists
- application signing (Symbian Signed){{cite web|url=http://developer.symbian.org/main/services/symbian_signed/index.php|title=Symbian Signed|access-date=4 August 2009}}
- application distribution (Symbian Horizon){{cite web|url=http://horizon.symbian.org|title=Symbian Horizon}}
- idea gathering and feedback (Symbian Ideas){{cite web|url=http://ideas.symbian.org|title=Symbian Ideas}}
- an annual conference (Symbian Exchange and Exposition, abbreviated "SEE")
=Members=
The Symbian Foundation invited companies to join as members, and attracted over 200, from a large number of categories:[http://www.symbian.org/members/member-directory] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616205114/http://www.symbian.org/members/member-directory|date=16 June 2010}}
- Device manufacturers (e.g. Nokia, Fujitsu)
- Financial services companies (e.g. Visa)
- Semiconductor vendors (e.g. ARM, Broadcom)
- Mobile network operators (e.g. China Mobile, Vodafone, AT&T)
- Software companies
- Professional services firms
Closure of Symbian Foundation
Following "a change in focus for some of [the] funding board members", the Symbian Foundation announced in November 2010 that it would transition to "a legal entity responsible for licensing software and other intellectual property", with no operational responsibilities or staff.[http://licensing.symbian.org/ Symbian Foundation]. Licensing.symbian.org. Retrieved 2013-12-08. The transition is a result of changes in global economic and market conditions (widely attributed to the stiff competition with other OS such as iOS and Android). Along with this announcement, Nokia announced it would take over governance of the Symbian platform. Nokia has been the major contributor to the code, and has been maintaining their own code repository for the platform development ever since the purchase of Symbian Ltd., regularly releasing their development to the public repository.[https://techcrunch.com/2010/11/08/guest-post-symbian-os-one-of-the-most-successful-failures-in-tech-history/ Guest Post: Symbian OS – One Of The Most Successful Failures In Tech History | TechCrunch]. Eu.techcrunch.com (8 November 2010). Retrieved 2013-12-08. On 17 December 2010 all Symbian Foundation public web sites, wiki and code repositories were shut down[http://blog.symbian.org/2010/12/17/symbian-foundation-is-completing-its-transition-to-a-licensing-body/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223093646/http://blog.symbian.org/2010/12/17/symbian-foundation-is-completing-its-transition-to-a-licensing-body/|date=23 December 2010}} and Nokia launched a new Symbian site.[http://symbian.nokia.com/2010/12/16/welcome-to-symbian-blog-from-nokia/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221011259/http://symbian.nokia.com/2010/12/16/welcome-to-symbian-blog-from-nokia/|date=21 December 2010}}
However that year both Samsung and Sony Ericsson left the Foundation in favor of Google's Open Handset Alliance and the Android operating system, leaving Japan's NTT Docomo as the only major Nokia partner. Then with the announcement of Nokia's partnership with Microsoft in February 2011 and the transition to Windows Phone OS as the primary platform,[http://www.allaboutmeego.com/news/item/12584_Nokias_new_strategy_and_struct.php/ Nokia's new strategy and structure, Symbian to be a "franchise platform", MeeGo still in long term plans] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906135631/http://www.allaboutmeego.com/news/item/12584_Nokias_new_strategy_and_struct.php |date=6 September 2013 }}. All About MeeGo (11 February 2011). Retrieved 2013-12-08. the development of Symbian stopped and was outsourced to Accenture.[https://www.engadget.com/2011/09/30/nokia-passes-off-symbian-and-2-300-employees-to-accenture/ Nokia passes off Symbian and 2,300 employees to Accenture]. Engadget.com. Retrieved 2013-12-08. Nokia closed this service at end of 2012.{{cite web |url=http://symbian.nokia.com/ |title=Symbian Blog | Symbian at Nokia |access-date=2010-12-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217141857/http://symbian.nokia.com/ |archive-date=17 December 2010 }}
After the transition completed in April 2011, the Symbian Foundation will remain as the trademark holder and licensing entity, and will only have non-executive directors involved.{{Cite web |title=Nokia brings Symbian in house; Foundation becomes licensing vehicle |url=https://www.telecoms.com/mobile-devices/nokia-brings-symbian-in-house-foundation-becomes-licensing-vehicle |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=www.telecoms.com |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Sister project links|Symbian Foundation}}
- {{Official website|www.symbian.org}}
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Category:Embedded operating systems
Category:Mobile operating systems
Category:Free software project foundations
Category:Organizations established in 2008