Symbian

Symbian Ltd.
Company type	Consortium; later subsidiary of Nokia
Industry	Mobile operating systems, Software
Predecessor	Psion's EPOC
Founded	1998
Founder	Psion, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia
Defunct	2014
Fate	Discontinued; development outsourced to Accenture; platform phased out
Successor	Symbian Foundation (non-profit), later replaced by Nokia Windows Phone platform
Area served	Worldwide (except limited traction in North America)
Products	Symbian OS, S60 UI, UIQ, MOAP(S)
Owner	Nokia (from 2008)
Number of employees	2,800 (transferred to Accenture in 2011) (2011)
Parent	Nokia (from 2008)

Symbian was a mobile operating system (OS) and computing platform tailored for smartphones, now discontinued. Its origins trace back to 1998 when the Symbian Ltd. consortium created it as proprietary software intended for personal digital assistants. Evolving from Psion's EPOC system, Symbian OS was designed exclusively for ARM processors, with an unreleased version for x86 architecture. It powered devices from leading manufacturers such as Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, and predominantly Nokia, along with Japanese companies including Fujitsu, Sharp, and Mitsubishi. Globally, Symbian held the top position among smartphone operating systems until 2010, when it was surpassed by iOS and Android; however, it never gained significant traction in North America.

The architecture of the platform centered on a microkernel-based OS complemented by libraries and user interface middleware that provided the graphical shell. Nokia’s S60 platform, launched in 2002, was the most widely adopted UI on Nokia’s Symbian handsets. Other competing user interfaces were UIQ—popular with Motorola and Sony Ericsson for stylus-driven devices—and MOAP(S), utilized by NTT DoCoMo in Japan. Despite sharing the same Symbian OS core, these interfaces were mutually incompatible. In 2004, Nokia became the largest stakeholder in Symbian Ltd., acquiring full ownership by 2008.

To unify the platform and develop a royalty-free successor to Symbian OS, the non-profit Symbian Foundation was formed. This initiative focused on consolidating around the S60 interface while discontinuing UIQ development. The touchscreen-oriented Symbian^1 (also known as S60 5th Edition) debuted in 2009, followed by Symbian^2 targeting the Japanese market and Symbian^3 in 2010. The latter marked a significant shift toward open source by becoming fully free software. Subsequent updates to Symbian^3 included releases named Anna and Belle in 2011.

Following the dissolution of the Foundation at the end of 2010, Nokia resumed direct management of Symbian’s development. In February 2011, Nokia announced that Windows Phone 7 would become its primary smartphone platform, initiating a gradual discontinuation of Symbian. By April 2011, Nokia transitioned Symbian to a proprietary licensing model, restricting collaboration primarily to Japanese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), before outsourcing further development to Accenture. Although support was initially guaranteed through 2016 with planned updates, active development largely halted by 2012 as most developers had departed Accenture. The acceptance of new or updated Symbian applications ceased in January 2014.

The Nokia 808 PureView, released in 2012, represented Nokia’s final official Symbian smartphone. Meanwhile, NTT DoCoMo continued to launch Operator Pack Symbian (OPP(S)) devices in Japan under brands like Fujitsu and Sharp at least until 2014, maintaining middleware layers atop the Symbian OS.

History

Symbian’s roots lie in EPOC32, developed during the 1990s by Psion. In June 1998, Psion Software transformed into Symbian Ltd., a joint venture formed alongside phone manufacturers Ericsson, Motorola, and Nokia.

Multiple software platforms emerged around Symbian OS with support from various manufacturers: S60 backed by Nokia, Samsung, and LG; UIQ favored by Sony Ericsson and Motorola; and MOAP(S), adopted by Japanese firms such as Fujitsu and Sharp.

In 2006, Symbian commanded a dominant position within the smartphone OS market with a global share of approximately 67%, outperforming rivals like Palm OS and Windows Mobile. Nevertheless, challenges such as complex development environments—including programming languages like Open Programming Language (OPL) and Symbian's version of C++, expensive integrated development environments (IDEs) and software development kits (SDKs), plus fragmentation caused by competing manufacturer platforms—restricted third-party application growth. This fragmentation impeded expansion of native app ecosystems compared to Apple’s App Store or Google Play on Android.

By contrast, iOS and Android featured streamlined architectures with centralized app distribution systems, user-friendly developer tools, and modern capabilities such as multitasking and enhanced graphics support—better aligning with evolving consumer expectations.

Java Mobile Edition applications provided some cross-device compatibility under a "write once, run anywhere" approach but suffered from fragmentation due to varying screen resolutions and inconsistent Java ME implementation across devices.

In June 2008, Nokia acquired full ownership of Symbian Ltd. and established the non-profit Symbian Foundation. Contributors including Nokia, NTT DoCoMo, and Sony Ericsson merged their versions of Symbian OS along with user interface platforms (S60, UIQ, and MOAP(S)) to form a royalty-free platform licensed under the Eclipse Public License (EPL). This unified platform was officially released as free software in February 2010.

Nokia assumed leadership as the main contributor overseeing both core OS and UI development while publicly releasing source code. The Foundation aimed to cultivate an open community-driven ecosystem with full source availability under EPL—marking one of the largest open-source transitions at that time.

However, certain components licensed from third parties delayed complete EPL adoption; some parts remained under the more restrictive Symbian Foundation License (SFL), limiting full source access to members only. The introduction of the free Qt framework in 2010 sought to simplify application development and ease migration toward MeeGo—intended as Symbian’s premium successor platform. Additional supported frameworks included Standard C/C++, Python, Ruby, and Adobe Flash Lite. The availability of free IDEs and SDKs helped revive interest among developers.

By November 2010, shifting market conditions alongside dwindling support from key members such as Samsung and Sony Ericsson forced the Symbian Foundation to cease active development operations and transition into a licensing entity only. Nokia resumed stewardship over platform maintenance while the Foundation retained control over trademarks.

Symbian’s market share declined rapidly—from roughly 39% during Q3 2010 down to about 31% by Q4—as iOS and Android gained momentum; Android surpassed Symbian as the leading smartphone OS by late 2010. Following Nokia CEO Stephen Elop’s February 2011 announcement endorsing Windows Phone as Nokia’s main smartphone operating system, both Symbian and MeeGo were gradually phased out. Developer enthusiasm waned swiftly; surveys from mid-2011 indicated over 39% planned to discontinue working on Symbian.

On April 5th, 2011, Nokia halted free distribution of new Symbian software releases and confined collaborative efforts primarily to select partners within Japan. Despite this, source code remains accessible through third-party repositories.

In June 2011, Nokia delegated ongoing Symbian development responsibilities to Accenture, transferring approximately 2,800 employees by October that year. From January 2014 onward, Nokia terminated all software development support for Symbian platforms—closing its 'Symbian Signed' certification program—and ceased accepting new applications on its Nokia Store marketplace.

User interface

The native graphics framework for Symbian, known as AVKON (previously Series 60), was tailored for devices with keyboard-style input methods, such as the approximately 15-key phone keypad or compact QWERTY keyboards. Applications built on AVKON have maintained binary compatibility up to the Symbian^3 version.

With the launch of Symbian^3, the Qt framework was introduced as the preferred UI toolkit for new software development, and it was also compatible with earlier models. Symbian^4 intended to release a fresh touch-centric graphical interface library named "UI Extensions for Mobile" (UIEMO or "Orbit"), which was based on Qt Widgets; a preview was available in January 2010 but Nokia discontinued the project by October 2010.

Subsequently, Nokia encouraged developers to transition to Qt Quick combined with QML, a high-level declarative framework designed for sophisticated touchscreen user interfaces compatible across both Symbian and MeeGo platforms. This advancement was rolled out to Symbian^3 devices, marking a progressive shift away from the traditional AVKON system and leading to eventual incompatibility with older S60 binaries.

Browser

Symbian versions up to and including Symbian^3 incorporated an integrated browser powered by WebKit, making Symbian the pioneer mobile OS to adopt WebKit technology as early as June 2005. Some previous devices came preloaded with Opera Mobile as their default web browser.

The introduction of Symbian Anna brought an upgraded browser that delivered enhanced performance and a refined user interface experience.

Multiple language support

Symbian provided robust localization capabilities, allowing manufacturers and developers to customize offerings for diverse international markets. Nokia distributed language packs comprising collections of languages relevant to particular regions, all containing English or a regional English variant. The final iteration, Symbian Belle, supported 48 languages and dialects, such as:

Arabic (Arabic script)
Basque (Latin script)
Bulgarian (Cyrillic script)
Catalan (Latin script)
Chinese [PRC] (Simplified Chinese)
Chinese [Hong Kong] (Traditional Chinese)
Chinese [Taiwan] (Traditional Chinese)
Croatian (Latin script)
Czech (Latin script)
Danish (Latin script)
Dutch (Latin script)
English [UK] (Latin script)
English [US] (Latin script)
Estonian (Latin script)
Finnish (Latin script)
French (Latin script)
French [Canadian] (Latin script)
Galician (Latin script)
German (Latin script)
Greek (Greek script)
Hebrew (Hebrew script)
Hindi (Indian scripts)
Hungarian (Latin script)
Icelandic (Latin script)
Indonesian [Bahasa Indonesia] (Latin script)
Italian (Latin script)
Japanese ([Japanese writing system|Japanese characters])*
Kazakh (Cyrillic script)
Latvian (Latin script)
Lithuanian (Latin script)
Malay [Bahasa Malaysia] (Latin script)
Marathi (India: Maharashtra region)
Norwegian (Latin script)
Persian [Farsi]
Polish (Latin script)
Portuguese (Latin script)
Portuguese [Brazilian] (Latin script)
Romanian (Latin script)
Russian (Cyrillic script)
Serbian (Latin script)
Slovak (Latin script)
Slovene (Latin script)
Spanish (Latin script)
Spanish [Latin America] (Latin script)
Swedish (Latin script)
Tagalog [Filipino] (Latin script)
Thai (Thai script)
Tamil (India region)
Turkish (Latin script)
Ukrainian (Cyrillic script)
Urdu (Arabic script)
Vietnamese (Latin script)

Kazakh support was added in Symbian Belle, while Korean language support was discontinued. Japanese language functionality was limited to Symbian^2 devices produced within Japan; other Symbian models offered only restricted Japanese capabilities.

Application development

Starting in 2010, Symbian embraced standard C++ programming with Qt becoming its main software development kit, accessible through Qt Creator or Carbide.c++. Qt provided compatibility with legacy Symbian/S60 3rd Edition versions as well as the new Symbian platform, in addition to supporting Maemo, MeeGo, Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X environments.

Other development alternatives included Python via Python for S60, Adobe Flash Lite, and Java ME. Earlier native application creation relied on a proprietary C++ variant using IDEs like CodeWarrior and later Carbide.c++.

The Web Runtime environment allowed developers to build portable widgets on the S60 platform by extending the WebKit-based browser to run multiple JavaScript applications independently within separate browser instances.

Qt

Starting in 2010, the Symbian SDK adopted standard C++ alongside Qt, which works seamlessly with Qt Creator or the earlier Carbide IDE. Developers can test Qt applications using a phone simulator that compiles the code natively for the development environment instead of relying on emulation. Both C++ and QML are supported for creating applications.

Symbian C++

Symbian OS is developed in C++ according to Symbian Software's unique conventions, enabling programming with Symbian C++, though it diverges from standard C++. Prior to the introduction of the Qt SDK, this was the dominant development platform. Various SDKs such as UIQ and S60 were tailored for Symbian OS devices, often complemented by manufacturer-specific SDKs.

These SDKs provide comprehensive resources including documentation, header files, libraries, and a Windows-based emulator known as "WINS." Up until Symbian OS version 8, they included a GCC cross-compiler. From version 9 onwards, a revised application binary interface (ABI) necessitated updated compilers featuring newer GCC releases.

Symbian C++ presents a challenging learning curve due to specialized constructs like descriptors and active objects, designed to optimize performance on limited hardware typical of the 1990s. This complexity is significantly lessened when using standard C++ through the Qt SDK.

Development is generally carried out within an integrated development environment (IDE). Earlier workflows relied on the commercial CodeWarrior IDE; since 2006, Nokia’s Eclipse-based Carbide.c++ has taken its place. Carbide.c++ is offered in four editions—Express (free), Developer, Professional, and OEM—each providing progressively advanced features such as user interface design tools and crash diagnostics. Additionally, Microsoft Visual Studio 2003 and 2005 are supported via the Carbide.vs plugin.

Other languages

Symbian platforms accommodate programming in a variety of languages including Python, Java ME, Flash Lite, Ruby, .NET, Web Runtime (WRT) Widgets, and Standard C/C++. Developers using Visual Basic can employ NS Basic for S60 3rd Edition and UIQ 3 devices.

In earlier times, Visual Basic, VB.NET, and C# development was facilitated by AppForge Crossfire, a Microsoft Visual Studio extension; however, AppForge ceased operations in 2007. While Oracle acquired its intellectual property, no further support was provided. The commercial .NET compact framework Net60 by redFIVElabs compiled VB.NET and C# into intermediate language executed on Symbian OS through just-in-time compilation. Development on Net60 ended in 2010 when the company sought to sell its intellectual property.

A Borland IDE variant was available for Symbian OS as well. Development efforts also extended to Linux and macOS through community-driven tools supported by Symbian’s release of source code for essential utilities. Furthermore, a plug-in enabled development of Symbian applications within Apple's Xcode IDE.

Java ME apps for Symbian are built using standard toolsets such as the Sun Java Wireless Toolkit and distributed as JAR packages. Both CLDC and CDC configurations can be developed with NetBeans. Alternative solutions include SuperWaba, which facilitates Java application creation on Symbian 7.0 platforms.

Nokia S60 devices support Python scripting through the Python for S60 interpreter, which offers APIs for Bluetooth and other capabilities along with an interactive console allowing direct script execution on the handset.

Deployment

Symbian applications are packaged as SIS files, which can be installed via over-the-air downloads, PC connections, Bluetooth transfers, or memory cards. Alternatively, software may come pre-installed through collaborations with device manufacturers. For Symbian OS 9.x, obtaining Symbian Signed certification is mandatory for applications to utilize advanced system and hardware features. From 2010 onward, this signing service was provided to developers at no cost.

Technology domains and packages

The Symbian architecture is segmented into distinct technology domains, each containing related software packages. Each domain follows its own development roadmap, coordinated by technology managers appointed by the Symbian Foundation. To encourage targeted community engagement and development efforts, packages are assigned exclusively to one domain based on their functional classification.

The Symbian System Model defines the boundaries of each domain across the platform’s packages. Package maintainers—representatives from member organizations—are responsible for upkeep and integrating contributions from the wider community.

Symbian kernel

The Symbian kernel (EKA2) supports real-time operations suitable for single-core devices running both user applications and signalling stacks concurrently. Its microkernel-based design incorporates only essential components such as the scheduler, memory management, and device drivers to ensure high reliability and responsiveness. Because it includes device drivers within the kernel, it does not qualify as a pure microkernel.

Design

Symbian implements pre-emptive multitasking alongside memory protection mechanisms, drawing inspiration from VMS’s asynchronous server-event model. The operating system was developed around three fundamental principles: safeguarding data integrity and security, reducing unnecessary user delays, and efficiently managing limited resources.

To realize these goals, Symbian employs a microkernel architecture combined with request-and-callback services and a strict separation between the user interface and core engine. It is optimized for battery-powered devices with limited resources and ROM-based systems through features like execute-in-place (XIP) and re-entrant shared libraries. Both the OS and its applications adhere to an object-oriented model–view–controller (MVC) framework.

Later iterations introduced a real-time kernel alongside a platform security framework to address changing market requirements. Resource conservation is a priority in Symbian’s design, utilizing programming patterns such as descriptors, cleanup stacks, and event-driven active objects that reduce CPU usage by switching to low-power states during inactivity. Thread and process management are also streamlined to minimize overhead and boost performance.

Operating system

The All over Model is structured into these hierarchical layers from top down:

UI Framework Layer
Application Services Layer
- Java ME
OS Services Layer
- Core OS functions including communications, multimedia, graphics, and connectivity services
Base Services Layer
Kernel Services & Hardware Interface Layer

At the lowest level accessible to users lies the Base Services Layer, which encompasses the File Server, User Library, a Plug-In Framework managing all plug-ins, Store, Central Repository, DBMS, and cryptographic services. It also provides foundational components like the Text Window Server and Text Shell that enable functional ports without higher-level layers.

Symbian’s architecture centers on a microkernel designed for stability and responsiveness. The kernel comprises a scheduler, memory management, and device drivers; meanwhile, networking, telephony, and file system support reside within the OS or Base Services Layers. Due to inclusion of device drivers in the kernel, it is not strictly a microkernel. The EKA2 real-time kernel ("nanokernel") offers only basic primitives; additional abstractions require an extended kernel layer.

To support removable media file systems effectively, Symbian adopted the File Allocation Table (FAT) early in its development. An object-oriented persistence layer overlays FAT to deliver a POSIX-style interface along with streaming capabilities; however, this tight coupling complicates modifications and data migration processes.

The networking subsystem consists of three primary servers: ETEL (handling telephony), ESOCK (managing sockets), and C32 (serial communications), each employing plug-in architectures. ESOCK facilitates multiple networking protocols through ".PRT" modules. The subsystem also supports short-range communication technologies such as Bluetooth, IrDA, and USB.

Initially, Symbian’s UI codebase was limited to base classes with most interfaces maintained by third parties. Since 2009, key user interfaces—including S60, UIQ, and MOAP—have been contributed back to the Symbian platform. The OS also provides libraries for graphics rendering, text layout, and font management.

Native Symbian C++ applications are constructed using three fundamental framework classes: application class, document class, and application user interface class. Supplementary components like application views and data models interact exclusively via defined APIs.

Certain elements lie outside this core model—such as SyncML, Java ME, and multimedia frameworks—which depend on third-party plug-ins (for example, codecs from the Helix Player). This approach standardizes APIs across different devices but demands significant vendor integration efforts.

Symbian offers a reference UI known as "TechView," utilized primarily for customization and testing purposes. It resembles the interface of the Psion Series 5 personal organiser but is not deployed in commercial devices.

During startup, the ROM bootloader initiates loading of Symbian from flash.

Symbian UI Variants and Platforms

With the release of Symbian OS version 7.0, the system diversified into several distinct graphical user interfaces (GUIs), each supported by different manufacturers. Unlike Android’s superficial UI customizations, Symbian's variants are termed "platforms" because they involve more extensive alterations and integrations. This approach resulted in fragmentation, as software developed for one Symbian platform frequently lacked compatibility with others.

Prominent Symbian-based UI platforms include:

S60 (Series 60), predominantly driven by Nokia, encompassing multiple editions from the initial 1st Edition (e.g., Nokia 7650) up to the 5th Edition which introduced touch capabilities (e.g., Nokia N97). Following the establishment of the Symbian Foundation, S60 was rebranded as Symbian^1, then Symbian^2 and Symbian^3.
Series 80, utilized in Nokia Communicator devices such as the Nokia 9300i.
Series 90, a hybrid touch and button interface, employed exclusively on the Nokia 7710.
UIQ, mainly supported by Sony Ericsson and Motorola, compatible with both touch and button inputs. The last release was UIQ3.1 in 2008 (Sony Ericsson G900), after which it was discontinued in favor of consolidating with S60.
MOAP (Mobile Oriented Applications Platform), a Japan-exclusive platform used by Fujitsu, Mitsubishi, Sony Ericsson, and Sharp for NTT DoCoMo handsets; it restricts user installation of C++ applications.
OPP, which succeeded MOAP for use on NTT DoCoMo’s FOMA network within Japan.

Version Comparison

Feature	Symbian^3/Anna/Belle	Symbian^2	Symbian^1/Series 60 5th Edition	Series 60 3rd Edition	UIQ (2.0)	Series 80
Release Year	2010–2011	2010 (Japan only)	2008	2006	2002	2001
Manufacturer	Symbian Foundation, later Nokia	Symbian Foundation	Symbian Foundation	Nokia	UIQ Technology	Nokia
OS Version	9.5–10.1	Unknown	9.4	9.3
S60 Version	5.2–5.4	5.1	5th Edition	3rd Edition FP2	N/A	N/A
Touchscreen Support	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Multi-touch Support	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Home Screen Customization Options	Three to six (up to six on Belle)	Unknown	One	Two	Unknown	One
Wi-Fi Compatibility	802.11b/g/n	Unknown	b, g	b, g	b, g	b, g
USB On-The-Go Capability	Yes	Unknown	No	No	Unknown	Unknown
DVB-H Support	Yes (via headset)	Unknown; supports 1seg on Japanese devices	Yes (via headset)	Yes (via headset)	Unknown	Unknown
FM Transmitter Availability	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Yes	No	No
FM Radio Capability	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
External Storage Support	MicroSD up to 32GB	MicroSD	MicroSD	MicroSD/MiniSD	Memory Stick/MicroSD/MMC	MMC
Adobe Flash Support	Flash Lite v4.0 native, upgradeable		Flash Lite v3.1 native, upgradeable	Flash Lite v3.1 native, upgradeable	Flash Player v6 native, not upgradeable
Microsoft Silverlight Compatibility	No		Yes	No		No
OpenGL ES Support	Yes v2.0					No
SQLite Database Support	Yes		Yes	Yes
CPU Architectures Supported	ARM	SH-Mobile	ARM	ARM	ARM
Programming Languages and APIs	C++, Qt preferred; Carbide.c++, Java ME, Web Runtime Widgets, Flash Lite, Python for Symbian	Unknown	C++, Qt; Carbide.c++, Java ME, Web Runtime Widgets, Flash Lite, Python for Symbian	C++, Qt; Carbide.c++, Java ME, Web Runtime Widgets, Flash Lite, Python for Symbian
Licensing Model	Eclipse Public License; since March 2011: Nokia Symbian License 1.0	Proprietary SFL license with some EPL components
Supported Package Formats	.sis, .sisx	Unknown	.sis, .sisx	.sis, .sisx	.sis, .sisx	.sis, .sisx
Multilingual Support Including Non-English Languages	Yes	Mainly Japanese	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Spell Checker with Underlining Feature	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Retention of State After Shutdown or Crash	No
Built-in Search Functionality	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proxy Server Compatibility	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
On-Device Encryption Features	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cut/Copy/Paste Operations	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Undo Capability	No
Default Web Browser and WebKit Engine Version Version 7.2/7.3 (engine versions 525/533) \| \| \| Version 7.1.4/7.3 (selected units) \| \| \| \|
Official Application Store Nokia Ovi Store \| i-αppli/i-Widget \| Nokia Ovi Store/Sony Ericsson PlayNow Arena \| Nokia Ovi Store/Download! \| \| \|
Supported Email Synchronization Protocols POP3, IMAP \| i-mode mail \| POP3, IMAP \| POP3, IMAP \| POP3, IMAP
NFC Functionality Yes No No No No
Push Notification Alerts Yes \| \| Yes \| Yes \| Yes
Voice Recognition Capability Yes Yes Yes \| \|
Tethering Options USB/Bluetooth; mobile hotspot via third-party software \| \| USB/Bluetooth; mobile hotspot via third-party software \| USB/Bluetooth
Document and Text File Support Mobile Office Applications and PDF \| Mobile Office Applications and PDF \| Mobile Office Applications and PDF \| Mobile Office Applications and PDF \| Mobile Office Applications and PDF
Audio Playback Formats Supported Supports all common formats \| wma,aac \| Supports all common formats \| Supports all common formats \| wav/mp3
Video Playback Formats Supported H.263,H.264,WMV,MPEG4,MKV,DivX,XviD HD720p WMV,MPEG4 H.263,WMV,MPEG4 H.263 H.263
Turn-by-Turn GPS Navigation Yes with third-party apps or Nokia Maps Yes with paid Docomo Map Navi service Yes with third-party apps or Nokia Maps Yes with third-party apps Yes with third-party apps
Video Output Options Nokia AV (3.5mm), PAL/NTSC, HDMI, DLNA via Nokia Play To HDMI Nokia AV (3.5mm), PAL/NTSC N/A N/A
Multitasking Capability Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Desktop Interactive Widgets Yes Yes No \| \|
Integrated Hardware Keyboard Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bluetooth Keyboard Support Yes Yes Yes Yes
Front-Facing Video Camera for Conferencing Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bluetooth Data Sharing Compatibility Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Skype Availability via Third-Party Software Yes							- style=text- align: center; -	Update Status - Discontinued on all platforms. - style=text- align: center; -	Initial Devices - Nokia N8 (Symbian^3), C7 (Symbian^3), X7 (Anna), E6 (Anna), Nokia 603/700/701 (Belle) - NTT DoCoMo F-07B (Symbian^2) - Nokia 5800 XpressMusic (S60 5th Edition) - Nokia N96/N78/6210 Navigator/6220 Classic (S60 3rd Edition) - Sony Ericsson P800 (UIQ) - Nokia 9210 (Series 80) - style=text- align: center; -	Noteworthy Devices - Nokia: N8,C6-01,C7,E7,E6,X7,N97,X6 series; Samsung i8910 Omnia HD; Sony Ericsson Satio/Vivaz series. - Nokia:5230 series including XpressMusic models; Samsung GT-i8510 Innov8; Sony Ericsson models. - Nokia Communicators:9210/9300/9500 series. - style=text- align: center; -	Latest Firmware - Nokia Belle Feature Pack 2 / Belle Refresh for Symbian^3. -

Devices manufactured by Fujitsu (*), Sharp (†)

Note: Official updates for Nokia Belle and other Symbian platforms ceased by December 2015 end-of-year deadline.

Market share and competition

During the first quarter of 2004, shipments of Symbian-powered phones reached 2.4 million units, effectively doubling the volume compared to the same period in 2003, with significant gains observed in the Japanese market. By the third quarter of 2004, shipments had climbed to 3.7 million, representing a year-over-year growth of 201%, while Symbian’s market share expanded from 30.5% to 50.2%. Despite this global momentum, Symbian's presence in the United States remained limited, capturing only a 6% share in Q3 2004, far behind Palm OS at 43% and Windows Mobile at 25%. This was largely due to North American consumers favoring PDAs over smartphones and Nokia’s relatively weak footprint in that region.

On 16 November 2006, the milestone of shipping the 100 millionth smartphone running Symbian OS was achieved. By July 2009, total Symbian device shipments had surpassed 250 million units. In 2006, Symbian controlled approximately 73% of the smartphone market, but this dominance diminished to 22.1% by the second quarter of 2011.

In Japan, Symbian sales reached 10 million units by May 2006—accounting for about 11% of global shipments—and escalated to 30 million by November 2007, securing a commanding 65% market share in mid-2007.

Although Symbian experienced a decline in market share amid rapid expansion of the smartphone sector and emergence of competing platforms, its sales volume continued to rise. Between 2008 and 2009, its global market share dropped from 52.4% to 47.2%, yet shipment numbers increased from 74.9 million to 78.5 million devices. From the second quarter of 2009 through the second quarter of 2010, Symbian shipments grew by an impressive 41.5%, adding roughly eight million units—compared to Android’s growth of approximately 9.6 million units during the same timeframe.

In 2009, Symbian accounted for a leading 47.2% share of smart mobile device shipments, followed by Research In Motion (RIM) with 20.8%, Apple iOS at 15.1%, Microsoft at 8.8%, and Android holding just 4.7%. The following year, Symbian maintained its lead with a market share of 37.6%, while Android rose to 22.7%, RIM held steady at 16%, and Apple iOS represented about 15.7%. By mid-2010, estimates suggested that approximately 385 million Symbian devices had been shipped worldwide.

During the period spanning 2009 to 2010, several key manufacturers—including Motorola, Samsung, LG, and Sony Ericsson—began transitioning away from Symbian in favor of alternative platforms such as Android and Windows Phone.

By the second quarter of 2012, IDC reported that Symbian’s global market share had plummeted to an unprecedented low of just 4.4%.

Criticism

Users operating in regions utilizing non-Latin alphabets—such as Russia and Ukraine—have long expressed frustration with Symbian’s inefficient language switching mechanism. To input a Latin character, users must navigate through menus to select English and then repeat this process to revert back to their native keyboard layout, significantly impeding typing speed. In contrast, other mobile operating systems as well as Nokia’s S40 phones permit toggling between two preselected languages with a single tap or gesture.

The initial firmware releases for the original Nokia N97, which ran on Symbian^1/Series 60 Fifth Edition, were widely criticized for instability and bugs, partly attributed to limited RAM capacity. In November 2010, All About Symbian highlighted poor performance in the default web browser and recommended Opera Mobile as an alternative; Nokia’s Senior Vice President Jo Harlow subsequently pledged an updated browser release in early 2011.

Symbian’s ecosystem suffered from fragmentation issues due to numerous versions and editions existing simultaneously, resulting in application incompatibilities across different iterations of the OS.

Malware

Symbian OS has been targeted by various malware threats over time, notably including the Cabir worm which propagated via Bluetooth connections. Most malicious software required explicit user approval before installation and often employed social engineering tactics by masquerading as utility tools or games.

With the introduction of Symbian OS version 9.x came a Unix-inspired capability-based security framework that imposed restrictions on software permissions. Applications needed digital signatures obtained through the Symbian Signed program or could be self-signed; these measures limited access to sensitive functions such as Bluetooth and GPS usage. Some network operators further constrained certificate acceptance exclusively to those signed via Symbian Signed.

Prominent examples of malware affecting Symbian include:

Drever.A – A Trojan designed to disable antivirus auto-start features.
Locknut.B – A Trojan that crashes a critical system service preventing applications from launching.
Mabir.A – A variant of Cabir enhanced with MMS propagation capabilities through Bluetooth.
Fontal.A – A Trojan causing permanent reboot failures necessitating phone reformatting.

In December 2010, Indian security researcher Atul Alex demonstrated a novel threat involving ‘cooked firmware’—modified versions of Symbian firmware embedded with concealed backdoors—exposing vulnerabilities at the firmware level itself.

Circumventing platform protection

Devices running Symbian OS 9.x can be compromised to disable the platform security mechanisms introduced starting with OS 9.1, permitting the execution of unsigned applications. This capability allows modification of system files and access to OS components that were previously restricted. Nokia condemned this exploit, warning it heightened the risk of mobile malware due to the ability to run unsigned code.

Version timeline

Version	Overview
EPOC16	Created by Psion during the late 1980s and early 1990s for "SIBO" hardware, EPOC16 was a 16-bit, single-user preemptive multitasking operating system developed in assembly language and C, embedded in ROM. It supported the Open Programming Language (OPL) along with the OVAL IDE. Devices running this OS included the MC200, MC400, Series 3 variants, Siena, Workabout, and Workabout mx. Its monochrome graphical interface was optimized for keyboard input with pointer support via digitizer panels. By the late 1990s, it was branded EPOC16 to differentiate it from EPOC32.
EPOC32 (releases 1 to 5)	Debuting on the Psion Series 5 in 1997, EPOC32—later renamed Symbian OS—was a preemptive multitasking system for a single user featuring memory protection and written in C++. It incorporated the EIKON GUI designed primarily for handheld keyboards but allowed for alternative GUI development. Initially targeted at ARM processors (ARM7, ARM9, StrongARM, Intel XScale), it was adaptable to other CPU architectures. Psion intended to license the OS to third parties and formed Psion Software (later Symbian Ltd.). Early licensees included Geofox (limited market presence) and Ericsson (which rebranded the Series 5mx as MC218). The OS powered devices such as Revo, Series 7, netBook/netPad, and smartphones like the Ericsson R380. The Series 5 launched in June 1997 featuring EPOC32 "Protea" with the "Eikon" GUI. The Oregon Scientific Osaris uniquely shipped with Release 4. Multiple devices utilized Release 5 in 1999; Release 5.1 supported early smartphones including Ericsson R380 (2000). In June 1998, Psion Software became Symbian Ltd., a joint venture involving Ericsson, Motorola, and Nokia; from Release 6 onward, EPOC was rebranded as Symbian OS.
Symbian OS 6.0 and 6.1	With its rebranding to Symbian OS and focus on smartphone foundations (ER6), Psion transferred essential personnel to Symbian Ltd., retaining a 31% stake. The Nokia 9210 Communicator (2001) was the first openly available Symbian phone, introducing Bluetooth connectivity. Sales expanded from approximately half a million units in 2001 to over two million by 2002. Symbian created generic reference UI designs (DFRDs) tailored for smartphones or communicators: Quartz (Ericsson/UIQ), Crystal (Nokia Series 80), Sapphire (Nokia Series 60), Ruby, and Emerald. Only Sapphire reached commercial release as Pearl DFRD, which evolved into Nokia’s S60 interface. By late 2002, Symbian withdrew from UI development; Pearl was transferred to Nokia while Quartz became part of UIQ Technology AB.
Symbian OS 7.0 and 7.0s	Launched in 2003 encompassing all major user interfaces: UIQ (Sony Ericsson P800 series), Series 80 (Nokia 9300/9500), Series 90 (Nokia 7710), and Series 60 (including Nokia models such as the 6600). Introduced support for EDGE networks, IPv6 protocol, and compliance with Java ME standards. By the end of 2003, monthly shipments reached one million units. Version 7.0s enhanced backward compatibility with Symbian OS versions from the 6.x series for devices like the Communicator 9500. In 2004 Psion divested its stake in Symbian Ltd. That year also marked the emergence of Cabir—the first mobile worm targeting Symbian devices—propagating via Bluetooth.
Symbian OS 8.0	Released in 2004 offering optional kernel choices: legacy EKA1 kernel compatibility alongside the real-time capable EKA2 kernel introduced later in version 8.1b. Included APIs for CDMA networks, third-generation mobile technology (3G), two-way streaming media, DVB-H broadcasting, and OpenGL ES graphics support. EKA1 ensured continued compatibility with existing drivers; EKA2 delivered real-time performance preferred by Japanese manufacturers.
Symbian OS 8.1	An enhancement over version 8.0 providing variants supporting both kernels: EKA1 (8.1a) and EKA2 (8.1b). Notably, Nokia’s first Nseries smartphone—the N90 launched in 2005—operated on Symbian OS version 8.1a.
Symbian OS 9.0	Intended solely for internal application; discontinued within the same year (2004). Marked termination of support for the EKA1 kernel; introduced substantial changes to development tools and security protocols while preserving backward compatibility through ARMv5 architecture support.
Symbian OS 9.1	Rolled out in early 2005 featuring strengthened security via mandatory code signing enforced by the Platform Security framework requiring digital certificates for API access. Adopted ARM EABI binary format necessitating developers to update their toolchains. S60 platform phones from this generation included Sony Ericsson M600 and P990 models; Bluetooth version upgraded to 2.0. Applications demanded capability-based permissions; user-grantable capabilities could be self-signed whereas advanced permissions required certification through the Symbian Signed program involving manufacturer authorization.
Symbian OS 9.2	Released during Q1 of 2006 incorporating enhancements such as OMA Device Management support and addition of Vietnamese language support. Featured on S60 platform devices including Nokia E71, E90, and N95 models.
Symbian OS 9.3	Delivered in July 2006 with improved memory management capabilities; native Wi-Fi (802.11) support and HSDPA connectivity on devices like Nokia E72, N79/N96 series, and Sony Ericsson P1.
Symbian OS 9.4	Announced in March 2007 introducing demand paging that accelerated application launch times by up to seventy-five percent alongside integration of SQLite database support. Implemented on flagship models such as Samsung i8910 Omnia HD, Nokia N97 series, Nokia X6, Sony Ericsson Satio/Vivaz. Formed the basis for the Symbian^1 platform release—also recognized as S60 fifth edition.
Symbian^2	Exclusively adopted by Japanese manufacturers starting May 2010; did not see implementation by Nokia.
Symbian^3 (Symbian OS version 9.5) and Symbian Anna	Introduced enhancements including improved single-touch menu navigation and hardware-accelerated graphics kernel; subsequent updates delivered incrementally rather than through major version changes. Symbian^4 development was cancelled; select features were integrated into ongoing updates of Symbian^3 beginning with Anna.
Nokia Belle (Symbian OS version 10.1)	Officially unveiled in August 2011 targeting Nokia’s latest smartphones such as Nokia 600/603, 700, and 701. Rebranded from "Symbian Belle" to "Nokia Belle," this update added a pull-down notification bar, NFC functionality integration, and resizable widgets expanded across six home screens compared to three previously. Available through Nokia Suite by early 2012; Feature Pack updates extended support to devices like Nokia 808 PureView. Planned subsequent releases Carla and Donna were cancelled mid-2012; Belle Feature Pack 2 became the last major update issued in October 2012 for select models including Nokia 603/700/701/808 PureView. The latest updates for initial Belle generation devices include Nokia Belle Refresh (111.040.1511).

Bibliography

External links

Symbian^3 EPL source

Extensive archive of Symbian Open Source
wildducks – Port of Symbian S^3 to Beagleboard
Symaptic – Mercurial repository and CMake build system (Windows platform)