Symbian mobile operating system is platform exclusively designed for the smart phones and Nokia retains this platform. It is similar to the desktop OS with multi-tasking, multithreading and memory protection. The operating system reached higher levels with the release of newer versions to keep itself in a growing pace. Recently, the company has launched a new version namely, Symbian^3.

The Software Development Kit (SDK) of this OS provides the developers with a platform that is rich with customized mobile based applications, client or server applications, e-commerce, communications and security applications, development of software for multimedia and games, applications for messaging, Bluetooth and data transfer. This platform is an advanced and open operating system which has received accreditation from most of the major smart phone manufacturers.

The OS has occupied a noticeable place in India and there is no doubt about this. It is a strong leader in the world of mobile operating systems with a share of about 72% in India. Currently, it has dropped by 3% in the market share in the country leaving way for the other operating systems. When speaking from a global front, the OS is still in the first place with 32% market share but still it is not the dominant one.

As mentioned above, in India, Symbian has started to decline in its market share due to the rise of the other operating systems. Nokia was offering this operating system for its handsets and now it has planned to drift to Windows mobile platform from the former. The mobile company has intentions to sell about 150 million smart phones across the globe and then gradually transit to Windows. This transfer to Windows by Nokia is sure to loosen the grip on the OS.

Nowadays, there are various useful operating systems in the market for smart phones. Let us take a well-balanced and detailed look on the necessity to change from Symbian. The common statements made by the users of this platform are that there are problems related to its interface. The OS however has a pure list of features which maintains it as the leader in the market. The users also claim that the handsets with this platform show better battery life than the ones with the others.

Developing  applications for this platform is too painful as opposed to the other platforms. Apparently, this software does not have the support for kinetic scrolling, standard widgets and a library for icons. Subsequently, the developed will opt for other platforms than Symbian without any doubt. Also the updates with the platform are very few in contrast with the others in the market.

The users who prefer more customization, widgets, faster browsing, multiple home screen options and a huge list of applications will have to drift away from the Symbian operating system to the rest like iOS, Android and more. The former does not support installation of virtual keyboards such as Swype. Above all, users who plan to take up smart phones manufactured by some others than Nokia will have to move from this OS as it does not show best performance with other handsets.