Symbian Foundation Adapts to Changing Mobile Landscape

The Symbian Foundation has had to adapt to the changing mobile landscape, just like many other companies in the industry. The foundation's shift from a non-profit to a for-profit entity in 2010 was a significant move.

This change allowed the foundation to better navigate the competitive mobile market. The foundation's decision to sell its assets to Accenture in 2012 was a direct result of this shift.

As a result, the Symbian operating system was discontinued, and its source code was made open-source. This move allowed developers to continue using the platform, albeit with limited support.

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The Symbian Foundation has a diverse group of members and partners. Over 200 companies from various categories have joined the foundation.

Device manufacturers like Nokia and Fujitsu are part of the Symbian Foundation, along with financial services companies like Visa. Semiconductor vendors like ARM and Broadcom are also members.

Mobile network operators such as China Mobile, Vodafone, and AT&T have joined the foundation. Software companies and professional services firms are also represented.

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Here's a breakdown of the categories of members:

As a Board Member of the Symbian Foundation, Fujitsu will work with foundation members to contribute to the development of the Symbian platform.

The Symbian Foundation underwent a significant transition in 2010, marking a shift in its business model. It would no longer be a non-profit organization but rather a legal entity responsible for licensing software and intellectual property.

This change in direction was largely driven by the seismic shift in the mobile market and the global economy. The Symbian Foundation's funding board members had a change in focus, making the current governance structure no longer suitable.

The transition involved cutting staff numbers and reducing operations, but the exact numbers were not disclosed at the time. The Symbian Foundation would continue to exist as a trademark holder and licensing entity, with non-executive directors only.

In 2011, the Symbian Foundation became a licensing operation only, with Nokia taking over the development of Symbian OS. The Foundation would no longer have operational responsibilities or staff, marking a significant departure from its original mission.

The transition was not without its challenges, as the Symbian Foundation would eventually become legally insolvent in 2022. The future of the organization remains uncertain, and it is unclear who the successor organization is.

Here are the key dates associated with the Symbian Foundation's transition: