The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Nokia exec denies Symbian Maemo swap claim

Doesn't quite address original allegation

A Nokia executive has pooh-pooh'd claims that the Finnish phone giant is dropping support for Symbian in favour of its Maemo mobile incarnation of Linux.

“Nokia is not replacing Symbian with Maemo," Peter Schneider, Head of Marketing for Maemo Devices at Nokia, Twittered yesterday. "Symbian and Maemo will continue to co-exist."

It’s worth noting, however, that the original report never claimed Nokia was planning to replace Symbian with Maemo across the board, just that it may do so with its smartphone devices.

Since Schneider's comment addresses an across-the-board operating system switch rather than the smartphone-only change, both claim and counterclaim are not mutually exclusive. ®

Latest Comments

Wishful thinking...

Anyone who's used a Maemo-powered Nokia N800 or N810 can vouch that Maemo is not a smartphone platform. Throwing in a cellular modem doesn't make it that either. All you get is a better-connected a MID or mini-netbook. Better hold on to that smartphone...

0
0

Thanks AC

Having looked at those two links from AC (one of which I'd found previously, and one of which I hadn't) I guess that I was really bemoaning the fact that the s60 versions weren't as easy/nice as Maemo Mapping :)

I have to say that the OS maps on s60 look very good, but are a little pricey (£150ish for the whole of the UK at 1:50,000).

I am more drawn to Maemo than to s60, mainly as I feel that it fits the vision of the phone as a mini computer better, but then again (as has been so amply demonstrated), what do I know...

0
0

if you want mobile Linux...use open mobile LInux

There are two handhelds that people should know about if you want a smartphone or handheld that runs linux:

the OpenMoko Freerunner: www.openmoko.com

and the Pandora: http://openpandora.org/

although the Pandora is not ready yet, it will kick butt on what the Nokia N810 will do

0
0

People working for Nokia

have told me they take Linux very seriously now. Maemo, Android or something else, I do not know.

In my opinion that does not mean that Symbian is out. Perhaps some more healthy competition within the company. After all I do not expect Symbian to run 90% of the worlds top500 super computers. So certainly there is room for both.

0
0

Does it really matter?

Maybe Nokia just wants to diversify its smartphone lineup.

Afterall, Series 40 is more or less dead. Maybe they are just looking to redefine the idea of a smartphone? They have been trying to get away from the term for a while, with the idea of a 'mobile computer'.

0
0

More from The Register

US boffin builds 32-way Raspberry Pi cluster
Beowulf cluster built for the price of a single PC
Nintendo throws flaming legal barrel at YouTubing fans
All your walk-through vid revenue are belong to us
Review: HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook
All roads lead to Chrome?
Borked your iDevice? Pay EVEN MORE to have it fixed by Applecare
Or scream at their hapless techies on their forums
Euro PC shipments plummet into bottomless pit of DOOOOM
11th quarter of decline, 20pc drop on last year - Gartner
 breaking news
Report: AT&T dropping Facebook phone after dismal sales
Turns out folks won't buy that for a dollar
Which petite model likes a fondle and GETTING WET? Sony's Xperia ZR
Take this new mobe swimming. Just not deep, or for long, OK?
Google adds Atari Easter Egg for Breakout's birthday
Cute game born in Jobsian heart of darkness