Symbian OS v7.0s unveiled as new smart phone platform

By Alun Williams

Posted on 29 Apr 2003 at 17:28

Symbian has updated its operating system for high-end mobile phones, Symbian OS v7.0s. The Symbian platform is found within mobiles such as the Sony Ericsson P800 Smartphone and the Nokia 7650 and 9210.

The announcement was made at the Symbian Exposium03, currently running in London.

The main new features are: the use of Multiple PDP contexts, which allow users to access more than one network service at the same time; a Quality of Service framework for the optimal management of network connections; a lightweight, multi-threaded multimedia framework (MMF) for audio, video and imaging functionality; support for Java MIDP 2.0 (Mobile Information Device Profile); and extended language support for Arabic and Hebrew.

As mentioned, this release sees Symbian upgrading its Java implementation to Java MIDP v2.0, the Java runtime environment optimised for small devices. What it means is that Symbian OS 7-based phones will be able to provide more sophisticated Java functionality. Symbian quotes the example of games exploiting Bluetooth and messaging functionality. The idea is to encourage over-the-air download of Java apps, whether offered by network operators or other third parties.

You can read more info on MIDP v2.0 at java.sun.com/products/midp.

Also at the Exposium03, Symbian has announced a Companion Technology Program. Designed to bring all Symbian OS licensees together, it will give them early access to technologies.

The ownership of the British-based Symbian consortium reads like a Who's Who of the mobile phone industry. With Samsung recently recently joining their ranks, the current share ownership breaks down as follows. Nokia, Motorola, and Sony Ericsson each have a 19 per cent share, Psion holds 25 per cent, Panasonic 7.9, Samsung 5 and Siemens 4.8.