The idea, said Jerry Panagrossi, VP of US operations at the London, UK-based vendor, is to pre-qualify email solutions for handset manufacturers and mobile operators, ensuring base level functionality and compatibility with the latest versions of the software.
Symbian, which is owned by a group of handset vendors led by Nokia Corp, will make a formal announcement of the program at the 3GSM show next month in Barcelona, Spain, where mobile email, and the push variety in particular, is sure to enjoy high visibility.
With a court decision imminent on whether market leader RIM must suspend its BlackBerry service in the US, and Microsoft rushing to deliver push capabilities in Windows Mobile 5.0, Symbian wants to publicize the fact that devices running its OS are worthy candidates to replace BlackBerries at any US company currently working out its contingency plans. In much the same way, other vendors of push email technology like Intellisync (in the process of being acquired by Nokia), Good Technology, and DataViz are busily advertising their wares for consideration as BlackBerry replacements.
