Open Kernel Labs Joins Symbian Foundation, Contributes OK:Symbian to Symbian Open Source Community

Virtualization Solution for the Symbian Platform Broadens Market for the Smartphone OS, Promises to Enable New Symbian Devices


CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - May 19, 2009) - Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs), the leading provider of virtualization software for mobile phones and broadband internet devices, today announced that the company has joined the Symbian Foundation, with plans for active participation in working groups, initiatives, and the Symbian developer program. In a strong demonstration of the company's commitment to the Foundation and to Open Source, OK Labs also plans to contribute OK:Symbian, its ready-to-run paravirtualized version of the Symbian platform kernel. OK:Symbian, running in OK Labs Secure HyperCell™ Architecture on the OKL4 microvisor, represents the first commercial virtualization solution for Symbian, and promises to broaden the market appeal of the smartphone OS to a range of new devices and device types.

"We welcome OK Labs' membership in the Symbian Foundation," noted David Wood, Leadership Team member, Symbian. "This will help the Symbian ecosystem meet the challenges of enabling new chipsets and new mobile hardware with the Symbian platform. The availability of OKL4, coupled with OK Labs contribution of OK:Symbian, paves the way for new designs and new markets for the Symbian platform."

"Open Kernel Labs membership in the foundation will materially help the Symbian ecosystem meet the challenges of enabling new chipsets and new mobile hardware with the Symbian platform," noted Steve Subar, OK Labs President and CEO. "As a Foundation member, OK Labs plans to advance the position of the Symbian platform and its licensees in the global mobile marketplace."

Open Kernel Labs

Open Kernel Labs is the global leader in open source virtualization software for mobile devices, consumer electronics, and embedded systems. Backed by the largest, independent team of microkernel developers, the OKL4 microvisor is deployed on more than 300 million mobile phones worldwide. Chipset suppliers, handset OEMs, and mobile network operators depend on OK Labs to deliver high performance solutions that decrease BOM cost, reduce complexity, and speed time-to-market.

For information on the OK Community, please visit the Community Portal at http://www.ok-labs.com/community/community-portal. Participants can join the Developer's Mailing List at http://www.ok-labs.com/community/mailing-list-signup.

About the Symbian Foundation

The Symbian Foundation, together with its ecosystem, is creating the most proven, open and complete mobile software platform, which is based on The Symbian platform and software assets contributed by Nokia, NTT DOCOMO, and Sony Ericsson, including the S60 and MOAP(S) user interfaces. The Symbian platform is the leading open mobile operating system, which has shipped in over 250 million mobile devices to date.

Portions of the source code are already being moved to open source, under the Eclipse Public License. By mid-2010, this process will be complete. This will make the platform code available to all for free, bringing additional innovation and engaging an even broader community in future developments.

The Symbian Foundation now occupies offices in the UK (London) and US (Foster City), and will soon have regional operations in China (Beijing) and Japan (Tokyo).

For more information please visit www.symbian.org or blog.symbian.org.

Open Kernel Labs, OK Labs and Secure HyperCell™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Open Kernel Labs or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Symbian Foundation and all Symbian-based trademarks and logos are trademarks of the Symbian Foundation. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Chris Walker Connect Public Relations (801) 373-7888 Marti Konstant Open Kernel Labs (312) 933-0101