Ben
10th May 2005, 05:14 PM
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/mobile/0,39020360,39197836,00.htm
British mobile phone software maker Symbian said on Tuesday that shipments of its smartphone software nearly tripled in the first quarter and it would soon name a new chief executive.
Symbian said its operating system was installed in 6.75 million phones in the first three months of 2005, up 180 percent year-on-year and up nearly 19 percent on the preceding quarter.
Royalty revenues from these shipments grew about 128 percent year-on-year to £19.8m. Total revenues, including services and partnering income, rose to £24.8m pounds from £12.9m in the same period last year.
Symbian was set up by British portable computer pioneer Psion and several of the world's biggest mobile phone makers. Psion withdrew last year, and Finland's mobile phone behemoth Nokia owns just under 50 percent of the shares.
Analysts said Symbian's performance was strong, but appeared underpinned by shipments to its largest shareholder Nokia.
"The release of Nokia's high to mid range Symbian phone, 3230, looks to have been a major factor in the shipment numbers," said Nomura analyst Richard Windsor.
Windsor said Nomura had upgraded its 2005 forecasts for the company and the smartphone market, and was now expecting smartphones to make up to 50 million shipments against its previous estimate of 44 million.
Symbian was expected to ship 26.6 million units, up from the previously estimated 22 million, he said in a research note.
The company said its annual performance would continue to be influenced by sales made by its operating system licensees during the latter part of the year.
Nomura said it expected shipments in the second and third quarters to be down compared with the first, but forecast a strong pick-up in the fourth quarter.
"Symbian is beginning to reach the point at which profitability is on the near-term horizon," it said in a note.
The company said it expected soon to make an announcement on the appointment of a new chief executive to replace David Levin, who left to head United Business Media.
Chief financial officer Thomas Chambers is now Symbian's acting chief executive.
Hurrah :) I sincerely hope Symbian keeps growing, and keeps improving.
British mobile phone software maker Symbian said on Tuesday that shipments of its smartphone software nearly tripled in the first quarter and it would soon name a new chief executive.
Symbian said its operating system was installed in 6.75 million phones in the first three months of 2005, up 180 percent year-on-year and up nearly 19 percent on the preceding quarter.
Royalty revenues from these shipments grew about 128 percent year-on-year to £19.8m. Total revenues, including services and partnering income, rose to £24.8m pounds from £12.9m in the same period last year.
Symbian was set up by British portable computer pioneer Psion and several of the world's biggest mobile phone makers. Psion withdrew last year, and Finland's mobile phone behemoth Nokia owns just under 50 percent of the shares.
Analysts said Symbian's performance was strong, but appeared underpinned by shipments to its largest shareholder Nokia.
"The release of Nokia's high to mid range Symbian phone, 3230, looks to have been a major factor in the shipment numbers," said Nomura analyst Richard Windsor.
Windsor said Nomura had upgraded its 2005 forecasts for the company and the smartphone market, and was now expecting smartphones to make up to 50 million shipments against its previous estimate of 44 million.
Symbian was expected to ship 26.6 million units, up from the previously estimated 22 million, he said in a research note.
The company said its annual performance would continue to be influenced by sales made by its operating system licensees during the latter part of the year.
Nomura said it expected shipments in the second and third quarters to be down compared with the first, but forecast a strong pick-up in the fourth quarter.
"Symbian is beginning to reach the point at which profitability is on the near-term horizon," it said in a note.
The company said it expected soon to make an announcement on the appointment of a new chief executive to replace David Levin, who left to head United Business Media.
Chief financial officer Thomas Chambers is now Symbian's acting chief executive.
Hurrah :) I sincerely hope Symbian keeps growing, and keeps improving.