Symbian OS 9 Debuts

Symbian Limited has launched Symbian OS 9, the latest version of the world's most popular operating system for smartphones.

It includes numerous improvements intended to bring about smaller, less expensive, and even more capable Symbian-powered smartphones.

Symbian Limited hopes to make its operating system the foremost smartphone platform for delivering music and other digital content.

For example, Symbian OS 9 supports Bluetooth stereo headsets, USB mass storage, advanced audio mixing and playback, as well as the latest MPEG and OMA DRM standards. It also supports the coming generation of multi-mega-pixel cameraphones.

To make it a better platform for gaming-oriented handsets, it includes enhanced support for 3D graphics, multimedia and graphics acceleration, as well as support for different screen sizes and orientations, and simultaneous multiple displays.

It supports the latest generation of ARM-based processors that will enable faster and more powerful Symbian OS phones with improved battery life.

New software development tools for Symbian OS 9 include ARM's RealView compiler, which substantially improves the performance of gaming and multimedia applications.

Getting Down to Business

But it isn't all about fun and games. Symbian OS 9 provides new enterprise functions such as enhanced filtering and sorting of IMAP email. It also has new group scheduling capabilities, including accepting meeting invitations from standard PIM applications like Lotus Notes or Microsoft Outlook.

Its Java implementation gives developers the opportunity to create advanced Java-based applications and services. Fully compliant with network operator Java specifications and Java Community Process standards, Symbian OS 9 continues to support the latest Java innovations.

"Handset vendors need smaller and cheaper phones with high-end capabilities to allow network operators to deliver value-added content and services to their customer base," said Andrew Brown, Program Manager for European Mobile Devices at IDC. "In Symbian OS 9, Symbian has enabled critical market requirements for device management and security, as well as providing a platform for online gaming, music and enterprise services."

Symbian OS licensees have phones based on Symbian OS 9 in development, with product launches expected during the second half of 2005.

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