Nokia launches open-source Series 60 browser

Nokia has said that it is using open source software as the basis of a new mobile browser for its world leading smart phone software, the Series 60 Platform.

The new browser will display web pages on mobile phones just as they were designed and are easy to use even though they have not been designed for mobile phones. The flexibility and extensibility of the new browser will allow Series 60 licensees to further innovate and customize the browser, for example to meet their operator customer needs.

The Series 60 browser will use WebCore and JavaScriptCore, the open source components of Apple's Safari Web kit. Based on KHTML and KJS from KDE's Konqueror open source project, this software has enabled Safari to achieve industry-leading features and performance. Nokia 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.

The unified and compatible browser base will offer a very compelling choice for Web content developers. Logging on to WebCore and JavaScriptCore components for its smartphone platform, Nokia and other Series 60 licensees are expected to be able provide a rich web browsing experience that takes full advantage of the fast wireless networks and advanced mobile devices.

With the realization that open source software is an ideal basis for development as it enables Nokia to leverage and contribute to speedy software innovation and development, the Series 60 value chain is seen as gaining much from the flexible architecture and full web compliance.