Nokia are planning to open source the Symbian mobile phone operating system.
They announced yesterday their intention to purchase the remaining 52% of Symbian they don't already own and make the mobile phone operating system open source through a new foundation with other industry leaders.
Plans to set up the Symbian Foundation are already underway and thay plan to begin operating in the first half of 2009.
According the their website
"The platform will be free and open to develop on from the start whether you are enthusiast, web designer, professional developer or service provider."
From an open source enthusiast's perspective this is very exciting. Finally we might be able to know what software is actually running on our phones, identify security flaws, and write new and interestng features.
But from a mobile phone software developer's stand point, it may not be as exciting as it sounds to me, as there seem to be many questions raised as to the quality of the Symbian operating system. Still, it is surely a step in the right direction, perhaps the community that develops around an open source Symbian will help iron out the creases. I guess time will tell.
Nokia are planning to open source the Symbian mobile phone operating system.
I noticed an interesting little product while I was browsing over at Nigel's Eco Blog the other day...
It is interesting to see that the BBC are keeping abreast of developments in the provision of Open Source software to the general public.
