DJ Siemens/Mobile Phones: First Symbian Product
BERLIN (Dow Jones)--Siemens AG (SI) plans to launch a smart phone, its first Symbian-operated product, in the coming weeks as it tries to keep up the pressure on rivals in the hard-fought mobile phone market, an industry source told Dow Jones Newswires Wednesday.
The smart phone launch is part of Siemens' plans to launch four new handset models.
Siemens will launch two phones: one high-end and one low-end model at the GSM World conference in Cannes, France, next month.
An additional two models will be launched at the CeBIT technology fair in Hannover, Germany, in March.
Siemens plans to launch a so-called smart phone, which combines a mobile phone with personal computer functions.
The smart phone model will be equipped with a color screen, and will be the German phonemaker's first product to use the operating system of Symbian PLC (U.SYN), the source said.
The decision to opt for Symbian software is a blow to Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), which is seeking inroads in the wireless market.
Siemens, which bought a 5% stake in Symbian last April, will phase out its Microsoft-operated SX45 personal digital assistant, jointly developed with Casio, the source added.
Siemens also plans to expand its successful 55 handset series, which includes the Munich-based company's latest mobile phone - the S55, which has multimedia messaging capabilities, a color screen, and the option of an attachable camera with a built-in flash.
Siemens is the world's fourth-largest mobile phone maker with a market share of 7.8%, according to market research firm Gartner Dataquest.
Chief Executive Heinrich von Pierer said recently that Siemens sold more than 9 million mobile phones in the fourth quarter, improving on last year's performance.
The German conglomerate has been criticized in the past for not being aggressive enough with the introduction of new models. It currently offers some 20 mobile phone models.
Company Web site: http://www.siemens.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
Wednesday, 22 January 2003 16:32:40
hoert sich nach dem K1 an, oder?
gruessles
mucfloh
