Symbian beats Linux challenge

Rating: Doesn't bode well for Google Android
by Tony Dennis

Symbian's recent announcement that it has sold a total of 30 million handsets in Japan was aimed at shoring up its sales performance. However, it also casts light on how an entrenched mobile OS supplier – like Symbian – will cope with the pressure from the likes of Google Android.

Symbian quoted figures from Techno Systems Research which show growth from 50 to 65 per cent of all NTT DoCoMo's 3G sales in 2007. Symbian achieved this figure even though it is competing against a version of Linux.

That version of Linux comes from Montavista and is not only specified by NTT DoCoMo but the operator has invested in Montavista, too.