Vodafone KK Trials 3G Symbian Apps
Vodafone has greenlighted two new Symbian OS applications for their 3G 702NK (Nokia 6630) handset –- at least on a trial basis. Connecting through the Vodafone live! Web service, users can create custom design packages (by Taito and Creek & River Co.) for the 702NK user interface at a cost of 420 yen per download (or get the NetFront mobile browser software from ACCESS to reach PC websites at 2625 yen). Matthew Nicholson, Vodafone Japan International Media Relations Manager, told WWJ “Though a number of handsets here are running the Symbian OS, we believe this is the first time Symbian content has been offered on a portal in Japan.”
The applications use the Series-60 Platform for Symbian OS applications, and were developed by member companies of Forum Nokia PRO, a premium service development support program sponsored by Nokia.
According to Symbian, close to 20 million Symbian OS-based phones have shipped as of March. Currently eight Symbian OS-based handsets are on the market here: NTT DoCoMo FOMA-series ?hRaku Raku,?h F900iC, F900iT, F900i, F2102V, F2051 and the F901iC — all manufactured by Fujitsu, plus Vodafone’s 702NK (Nokia 6630).
Outside Japan, the Symbian OS is already available in the Ericsson R380 Smartphones, the Nokia 9200 Communicator-series, the Nokia 7650 and the Sony Ericsson P800. The company expects to make a splash shortly in Chinese markets. Handsets from Panasonic and China’s Lenova should soon be on sale.
— The Editors