The Symbian mobile operating system, which powers handsets manufactured by Finland-based Nokia, has now gone open source.
The Symbian foundation has released the code for the system, which is the world’s most widely used. Any user can download the code under open-source licensing.
“The transition… to open source is the largest in software history. The move has been completed four months ahead of schedule and provides the basis for unlimited mobile development based on innovation and openness.”
“Any individual or organisation can now take, use and modify the code for any purpose, whether that be for a mobile device or for something else entirely.”
The foundation has said the Symbian system will now be open for innovation, with the opportunity now available for developers to work on the system for free.
The move places Symbian next to the Google Android OS, which is also open source.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
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