Nokia responds to Android with Symbian buy

25/06/2008

Mobile phone manufacturer Nokia has moved to minimise the potential impact of Google's forthcoming Android mobile operating system by taking control of Symbian.

While Nokia denied that the acquisition of the software company was in response to outside parties, analysts are in general agreement that Nokia is looking to combat the competitive threat of Google in the market, the Guardian reports.

Nokia announced earlier this week that it is to use the buyout of Symbian to create an open source mobile platform in partnership with companies such as Vodafone, AT&T, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, STMicroelectronics and Texas Instruments, to be made available in the next two years.

"Establishing the [Symbian] Foundation is one of the biggest contributions to an open community ever made," commented Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, chief executive of Nokia.

Emeka Obiodu of Global Insight told the Guardian that the announcement has effectively led to Google's Android plans being "fatally derailed".

Google's Android partners include T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm and Motorola.