The man that’s essentially responsible for Nokia’s mid to high end phones speaks:
Do you feel that Apple’s iPhone has the potential to disrupt the market?
The iPhone is a touch screen music phone, which will be available in the middle of the year in the USA. Walkman music devices are already available in the market. To an extent, Apple is following a trend that has been talked about for years…the future of the single use device is very limited even if it is the iPod. We regard Apple’s entry in the market as a proof point/endorsement that convergence is real. Apple’s entry into any market is exciting and it brings in a brand and design standard that is renowned. They will set a high standard in terms of consumer interface. It would be challenging if they join the smart phone segment. They may think about that, but they are in just one segment right now.
What is the status on the single core 3G phone project that Symbian is working on along with Nokia and Freescale?
This is a long term engagement to create the skeleton of a single core 3G phone that is cost effective. It would be ready by the end of 2007. It is an important building block.
What are you doing to counter competition from other players?
We are not complacent. We are aware that we are the number one target for our competitors. We are working with licensees and partners to make our next version better. We are innovating on more multimedia, interoperability and different types of radios. These are areas that operating systems have to be aware of in the next years. We are moving into a 3G world and also have technologies like WiMax and EDGE coming in. Getting ahead of the market is important but remaining in touch of the market is also important.
Source: CyberMedia India Online
Via: Symbian Watch
Once the iPhone gets released I hope that this company can take a few of the UI implementations that Apple has created and port them over to the next version of Symbian.
Apple made such a big deal about OS X. Now it is Symbian’s turn to come out with Symbian X!