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Nokia mobile phones to sport technology used by Apple Safari
BY OUR TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT
14 June, 2005: Nokia takes a bite of Apple. Finnish mobile manufacturer Nokia has announced that it is using the state-of the-art open source software as the basis of a new mobile browser for its leaing smartphone software, the Series 60 Platform.
The new Nokia internet browser aims to create a unique user experience when browsing full Web pages on a smartphone screen. The browsing can be over wireless connections with the top performance in the mobile industry. The flexibility and extensibility of the new Nokia browser will allow Series 60 licensees to further innovate and customize the browser, for example to meet their operator customer needs.
A key component of this broswer development has been Nokia's cooperation with Apple, as the Series 60 browser will use the same open source components, WebCore and JavaScriptCore, that Apple uses in its popular Safari Internet browser. The Nokia-Apple alliance promises an unbeatabe combination.
Based on KHTML and KJS from KDE's "Konqueror" open source project, this software has enabled Apple Safari to achieve excellent features and performance. Nokia now intends to continue its collaboration with Apple and actively participate in the open source community to further develop and enhance these components, contributing Nokia's expertise in mobility.
Nokia and other Series 60 licensees will be able to provide unique Web browsing, taking full advantage of today's fast wireless networks and advanced mobile devices, by making use of WebCore and JavaScriptCore components for its smartphone platform,
Nokia has commissioned a consumer research study called the "Smartphone360" study among Series 60 smartphone users. More than 50% data traffic was generated by internet browsing.
"Nokia is excited to enrich Series 60 with optimized mobile Web browsing. Open source software is an ideal basis for development since it enables Nokia to leverage and contribute to speedy software innovation and development. As a result, the entire Series 60 value chain, from manufacturers and operators to end-users, will benefit from the flexible architecture, full Web compliance and a truly enjoyable user experience," said Pertti Korhonen, Chief Technology Officer, Nokia.
"Open source development also enables close cooperation with the industry's best innovators, such as Apple. Both Apple and Nokia share a commitment to Internet standards and the use of a common code. The unified and compatible browser base will offer a very compelling choice for Web content developers," Korhonen continued.
According to Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing,
"Apple is pleased to assist Nokia in creating their new Series 60 browser based on the same KHTML open source technology that powers Apple's Safari. The Safari Web Kit's blazing performance, efficient code base and support for open standards make it an ideal open source technology for projects like Nokia's new Series 60 browser."
The new Series 60 browser will be available to all Series 60 licensees as a standard Series 60 application during the first half of 2006. The browser will support all features of the current Series 60 browser as well as being enhanced with increased performance and exciting new features.
The Series 60 Platform, built on the Symbian OS, is the leading smart phone platform in the world. It is licensed by some of the foremost mobile phone manufacturers in the world including LG Electronics, Lenovo, Nokia, Panasonic, Samsung, Sendo and Siemens. The flexibility of the Series 60 Platform allows for various hardware designs and software configurations. This is demonstrated through the multitude of Series 60 based phones already available on the market.
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations.
BY OUR TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT
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