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I'm currently developing a mobile phone programming curriculum at the University of Nairobi, while simultaneously pursuing my ever growing list of research areas as a Research Scientist at MIT.

Android / Symbian Merger Predicted

natecow | 25 July, 2008 22:03

Analysts at J. Gold Associates are predicting a merger between Symbian and Android in the next three to six months. While I'm not convinced these guys have much more insight into this market than we do, I think it could be great news if they turn out to be correct. An increasing number of my students are becoming avid supporters of mobile open source everything and I don't see much downside of a unified, open source mobile phone operating system. Will a Symbian / Android merger change life as we know it?

 

 

http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/business/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=209600592

 

from Engadget 

 

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Reality factor?

tote_b5 | 26/07/2008, 02:21

tote_b5

Hi Nathan,

You've been silent for such a long time, it's great to see you posting again. Welcome back! :)

As to your question, I wonder what is the reality of this move. I have some comments, please see below.

First, Android platform is based on Linux, whereas Symbian is based on ... err, Symbian. Two, totally different systems, at least they both have their own peculiarities. How could they merge? I think only by one giving up itself and yielding to the other (e.g. Android would throw Linux away and build the rest of the stuff on Symbian). It would be technically VERY challenging.

As to carriers demanding their own custom user experience, it will never disappear. They will insist on branding no matter developers and platform providers think about it.

I disagree with another statement of the article, too, namely that the "downside is minimal". As this step would require huge effort both at technical and management level, the probability of that something would go wrong is very high. Not impossible, though, and eventually it might be worth the effort. However, it'd be very risky.

Finally, a question: what's wrong with competition? I can imagine, though, that what Google is really interested in is not a new open-source mobile platform per se, but a means to deliver their ads. So why not change? :)

Reality factor?

natecow | 26/07/2008, 09:16

natecow

Here is a quote from the Symbian CEO about their willingness to collaborate with Google on the operating system. Will be interesting to see how this progresses.
http://www.arcchart.com/blueprint/show.asp?id=493

Rumour?

tote_b5 | 27/07/2008, 01:05

tote_b5

The "other" side is also represented here:
http://www.symbian-freak.com/news/008/07/no_plans_to_merge_symbian_with_android.htm
and here
http://www.intomobile.com/2008/07/26/nokia-and-google-rebuff-claims-of-symbian-android-merger.html

But I agree that it'll be interesting to see how it goes.

Re: Android / Symbian Merger Predicted

Damavik | 28/07/2008, 16:38

I think rumors are overestimated grossly. Really, it's more actual just to integrate a set of Google (search, maps etc) services into Symbian OS low levels. Nothing else.

Andriod

N70Music | 14/08/2008, 05:42

Can someoneshow me a screenshot of Android OS?

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