STOCKHOLM, Sweden-In what may look like a political victory of sorts for Nokia Corp., Phone maker Sendo jolted the wireless world with its decision to abandon its agreement to use Microsoft’s software and Smartphone operating system for its handsets.
The vendor decided to adopt Nokia’s series 60 platform that runs on top of the Symbian operating system. Sendo said it would scrap the Z100 software just days before some major carriers, including Cingular, were scheduled to receive it.
The action is a testament to the fragility of some of the wireless contracts announced in the past couple of years.
Analysts think that the change to Symbian raises issues about Microsoft’s role in moving toward interoperability and demands of operators.
“Sendo’s dramatic defection to the Nokia Series 60/Symbian platform is a cruel blow for Microsoft, which had hoped to gain ground in the mobile market by being the platform of choice for operator-specified smartphones,” commented Eden Zoller, wireless Internet director at Ovum. “Microsoft’s licensing conditions could not accommodate the depth of customization required by operators.”
Sendo becomes the newest member of the series 60 licensing community with Matsushita, Samsung, Siemens and Nokia.
“The platform utilizes open standards and technologies, such as MMS and Java, jointly developed by the industry,” said Hugh Brogan, chief executive officer of Sendo Holdings Plc. “The platform is robust, yet uniquely flexible, bringing great benefits to licensees, operators, developers and consumers.”
