Nokia has recently decided to license its Symbian OS (Operating System) to Taiwanese software developer Silkroadtaiwan, seeking to gain ground in OS war in the mobile device space. Under the agreement, Nokia will set up a development center for Symbian series 60 in Silkroadtaiwan, a subsidiary of Yuen Foong Yu (YFY) Group, to provide services to Taiwanese mobile phone makers.

 

Such decision is part of Nokia's strategy to further its business of Smartphones, which adopt platforms such as Symbian Series 40 and Symbian Series 60. Through the center with Silkroadtaiwan, Nokia also expects to leverage Taiwanese handset makers' production strength to push Symbian as the preferred OS system, as opposed to the Microsoft OS that dominates Taiwanese Smartphone production.  

 

Silkroadtaiwan was established in 1999 with backing from YFY Group, a major paper manufacturing corporation based in Taiwan, and has been authorized by Nokia since 2001 to sell the vendor's mobile solutions in Asia Pacific Region. In 2002, the Taiwanese company also established the partnerships with Symbian and with Nokia as a Nokia S60 contractor. Silkroadtaiwan also provides customization and localization to Asian markets, as well as Symbian OS training services.