Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs) has announced availability of OK:Symbian, a ready-to-run paravirtualized version of the globally-deployed Symbian smartphone platform. OK Labs Secure HyperCell(TM) Architecture enables the Symbian platform to be used as a guest operating system running in a secure hypercell on top of the OK Labs OKL4 microvisor. With this architecture, OK:Symbian attains new levels of security and robustness and enables the use of Symbian platform in new lower cost devices and in new ways.

Currently, the Symbian platform runs on select handsets from Nokia, Sony Ericsson and other Symbian licensees. The creation of the Symbian Foundation and the opening of the Symbian platform code promise to broaden the market and appeal of the mobile OS, but chipset vendors, mobile OEMs, and mobile network operators (MNOs) still face the challenge of porting and hosting the Symbian platform on both current chipsets and new mobile hardware.

OK Labs delivers on the promise of new markets by enabling mobile device manufacturers and operators to deploy the Symbian platform using the company's Secure HyperCell(TM) Architecture and OKL4 microvisor. "OKL4 already ships on over 300 million phones worldwide, which are based on industry-standard mobile chipsets," commented Steve Subar, OK Labs President and CEO. "OK:Symbian builds on existing OKL4 enablement in mobile device designs, simplifying the integration of Symbian OS with new devices and dramatically shortening time to market." Moreover, OK:Symbian lets handset OEMs, MNOs and mobile phone users benefit from the tens of thousands of existing Symbian applications and the global developer community for the Symbian platform.

"OK:Symbian provides a ready-to-use integrated solution combining two leading system software products for mobile devices: the OK Labs OKL4 microvisor and the Symbian platform," noted Rob McCammon, Vice President of Product Management at OK Labs. "Both are based on open source software, both enjoy long-term deployment by leading handset OEMs, and both software solutions power hundreds of millions of mobile handsets from leading manufacturers."

OK:Symbian benefits mobile OEMs and mobile network operators

OK:Symbian confers a range of benefits across the Symbian ecosystem, from Nokia, deploying the Symbian platform in over 100 million handsets, to other members of the Symbian Foundation and beyond, including mobile OEMs, MNOs, developers and mobile phone users in Asia, the Americas, and Europe.

OK:Symbian enables businesses in the mobile ecosystem to:

Open Kernel Labs

Open Kernel Labs is the global leader in open source virtualization software for mobile devices, consumer electronics, and embedded systems. Backed by the largest, independent team of microkernel developers, the OKL4 microvisor is deployed on more than 300 million mobile phones worldwide. Chipset suppliers, handset OEMs, and mobile network operators depend on OK Labs to deliver high performance solutions that decrease BOM cost, reduce complexity, and speed time-to-market.