Consumer View of Symbian Binary Break
I received the following email this morning…"If you have a moment - i would be very grateful for your expert opinion.
A few days ago I bought a Nokia N80 smartphone. This is described as running S60 3rd Edition software on Symbian OS. I had fully expected this to be backwards compatible with software running on earlier Nokia models such as the Nokia N70.
But not so - it wont run for example the TomTom gps satnav software which runs perfectly well on the N70.
The Nokia website describes the OS as S60 software on Symbian OS on N-series models N70, N71, N72, N73, N90 and N91. That website also describes the OS as S60 3rd Edition software on Symbian OS for models N80, N92 and N93. There is no mention of backwards incompatibility.
My phone provider, Vodafone, knew nothing about this problem but got the following response from Nokia:-
We [Vodafone] have been told categorically that there will not be a software release allowing applications designed for the N70 to run on the N80 handset. I am told that this is because the two phones are different in structure and require different platforms from which to run applications.
I have independently spoken to Nokia who claim that the latest software release is to provide enhanced security. A colleague of mine got someone at Nokia to admit that this lack of backwards incompatibility is a real cock-up and heads ought to roll over it.
Do you have a view on this?"
A few days ago I bought a Nokia N80 smartphone. This is described as running S60 3rd Edition software on Symbian OS. I had fully expected this to be backwards compatible with software running on earlier Nokia models such as the Nokia N70.
But not so - it wont run for example the TomTom gps satnav software which runs perfectly well on the N70.
The Nokia website describes the OS as S60 software on Symbian OS on N-series models N70, N71, N72, N73, N90 and N91. That website also describes the OS as S60 3rd Edition software on Symbian OS for models N80, N92 and N93. There is no mention of backwards incompatibility.
My phone provider, Vodafone, knew nothing about this problem but got the following response from Nokia:-
We [Vodafone] have been told categorically that there will not be a software release allowing applications designed for the N70 to run on the N80 handset. I am told that this is because the two phones are different in structure and require different platforms from which to run applications.
I have independently spoken to Nokia who claim that the latest software release is to provide enhanced security. A colleague of mine got someone at Nokia to admit that this lack of backwards incompatibility is a real cock-up and heads ought to roll over it.
Do you have a view on this?"
Here is my reply…
"Interesting email. It shows how little consumers have (or are) been told about Series 60 3rd - and how incompetent Vodafone are. In fact, Symbian say that it’s because of network operator requirements that the phone have been made more secure and why, partly as a result, the binary incompatibility has occurred.
It’s been known for over a year by all companies (Symbian, Nokia, network operators, retailers) that the new devices would not be backwards compatible. Windows Mobile (Pocket PC) went through a similar transition a few years ago. If that is anything to go by, in the short term there will be a lack of software - in a few years, the transition will be forgotten."
When Microsoft Windows Mobile went through its period of binary incompatibility, it went to great lengths to educate everyone of the consequences. The lack of consumer awareness about Nokia Series 60 3rd Edition binary incompatibility is probably related to the lack of strong differentiated marketing of the Series 60, which I commented on in a previous post.Related Articles: