CeBIT: Sun confirms it will support Symbian group

Sun's Java is to become the EPOC platform for the Symbian mobile consortium which includes Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, Philips, Psion and others. According to Sun-CEO Scott McNealy, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Sun and Symbian.

Further discussions and a final contract should follow shortly. Approximately 40 to 60 million users are expected to adopt the new standard via the Communicators and Smartphones in the next 5 years. The first devices are expected to be available at the end of this year.

"With the number of mobile phone users estimated to represent 1/6 of the world's population by 2005, the significance of this alliance between Sun and Symbian on the mobile phone market is monumental," said McNealy.

Thanks to ZDNet Germany for this report. Translated by Sophie Handrick.

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