In a latest survey carried out by Gartner, the Symbian platform confirmed that it was nonetheless the undisputed champion of smartphone OSs. Nevertheless, with the latest explosive development of the iPhone together with the buildup of Android, webOS, BlackBerry and Home windows Cell, this will grow to be a factor of the previous.

Symbian has historically had the biggest marketshare because of the long-term strategic planning of the platform. What are actually thought-about commonplace options for smartphone OSs’ corresponding to app shops, firmware updates, developer SDKs, and many others had been all pioneered by Symbian. Sadly, it appears as if the know-how was nicely forward of its time compared to what’s thought-about “revolutionary” or “cutting-edge” right now. Symbian ought to look to recapitalize on this edge by leveraging the platform aggressively to shoppers once more.

Beneath are a couple of steps that Symbian ought to significantly look into to re-launch the platform into shopper minds once more:

1. New revolutionary telephones with hanging designs
a. Re-forge a know-how partnership with Nokia
b. Deal with American markets
c. Compete on value factors with sponsored telephones

2. Open-source the bottom code for Symbian
a. Permit cross-platform publishing: Qt
b. Construct stronger relationships with builders
3. Market Symbian Horizon

(Supply)

There are extra actions however these are the pertinent points that Symbian ought to look to deal with.

1. New revolutionary telephones with hanging designs

Historically Symbian telephones haven’t essentially been essentially the most attractive or fascinating telephones. They had been utility pushed sensible units the place seems weren’t excessively necessary. Nevertheless, shopper tastes have drastically modified. Primarily, Apple’s insistent concentrate on model has pushed the ideas of consumers to larger demanding expectations from their smartphones. They presently maintain the standing of a trend accent as nicely, clearly utility and productiveness doesn’t reduce it for in the present day’s shopper.

Nokia is Symbian’s greatest asset right here, with a slew of telephones together with the N-97 and numerous N-series telephones doing phenomenally nicely all around the world. Symbian must staff up with some critical designers and construct telephones that can drive mad in the event that they don’t have them. With a variety of folks now starting to match telephones as trend equipment, it’s time for a change. Deliver within the modern, neat, shiny piano black plastic and brushed metal, and out with the gray scratchproof plastics.

The Symbian-Nokia partnership additionally has an added benefit, primarily the know-how quantity Nokia has invested within the touchscreen. The multi-touch assist in Nokia screens is revolutionary in some ways. At present, Nokia and Apple are going face to face for know-how patents, however Symbian should seize this function’s performance to make sure that clients come again to the platform. The iPhone, HTC HD2, Motorola’s Droid, Samsung Omnia, and many others all have set high-standards, nonetheless, Symbian’s expertise ought to show worthwhile to inserting a brand new twist on the function. Improved typing assist alone may win probably thousands and thousands of consumers who’re textual content fanatics however not essentially followers of the makes an attempt of touchscreen strategies presently out there.

One other issue that Symbian ought to emphasize is the shortage of penetration of Symbian inside the US. Contemplating that almost all of the developer capital is positioned in Silicon Valley and different know-how hubs, the US is a vital marketplace for smartphones. With acceptance inside that particular market, Symbian may simply overtake all its different rivals because the main smartphone OS.

2. Open-source the bottom code for Symbian

Qt is a kind of know-how that enables customers to develop functions that may simply be ported to different platforms with out having to rewrite the code a number of occasions. At present there are few functions that actively permit for simple porting to different platforms. Though methods exist for porting apps throughout from iPhone to different platforms, it’s by no means actually as straightforward because it appears. This concern must be clearly addressed to make sure that the platform turns into viable for builders.

A hidden asset that generally know-how firms overlook is the builders themselves. Though a lot assist is devoted to them, they’re important stakeholders within the know-how that’s being developed. They’re clients in addition to the end-user for apps and handsets. With out their assist and energy, the know-how would simply sit as a useless platform. Symbian must actively search for know-how evangelists inside their platform and produce them on board as energetic companions within the know-how that’s being developed. With their contributions and insights, it can convey round a brand new revival within the platform which can assist it retain its marketshare amongst smartphone working techniques.

3. Market Symbian Horizon

Horizon is a superb free neighborhood that Symbian has created for app builders to publish their apps freed from price to construct a developer base. The design and interface is gorgeous emphasizing the enjoyable facet of Symbian and the entry that builders must the neighborhood and Symbian for improvement functions. I learnt of Symbian by way of a remark of a Symbian Horizon worker on LinkedIn. Previous to the remark, I’d by no means heard of it. Clearly, Symbian actually must push Horizon into the minds of builders. The flexibility to publish apps totally free and entry the required goal markets is of nice profit for app builders who must construct a reputation and popularity whereas they develop apps.

An added good thing about Horizon is that it permits customers to work together with Symbian workers and different builders in order that they’ll make an impression within the smartphone OS.

It appears as if Symbian does have a big quantity of labor to do to take care of it’s marketshare. Nevertheless, a coordinated effort may simply convey it again to the forefront of smartphone working techniques. Hopefully, a re-entrenchment technique will assist Symbian focus its efforts to fight the upcoming competitors by way of Android, iPhone, webOS, and BlackBerry’s choices.