ABSTRACT
The wireless industry is undergoing fundamental change from a voice to voice-and-data proposition. This requires a new generation of device able to combine delivery of next generation data services with the traditional characteristics of a consumer-oriented mobile phone. Such phones will be centered on advanced operating systems, based around open standards, to deliver a combination of power and flexibility. Symbian OS is such an operating system that has been adopted by all the key players in the mobile phone industry to power their next generation handsets. In this chapter, we will review the role of the open operating system in phone design and consider the way in which it enables a varied proposition to each element of the mobile market, including content owners, mobile operators, phone makers and retail channels. We will also discuss some of the challenges that face the industry and explore possible solutions.
