”Nokia will pay $410 million for the remaining shares in UK-based smartphone software maker Symbian and make its software royalty-free to boost phone sales and respond to new rivals such as Google, a Reuters report said.”Nokia already owns a majority of Symbian, this is probably a symbolic move in the outlook of a more competitive mobile operating system market, with Symbian being the market leader followed by Microsoft’s Windows Mobile, which the latter is trying to push after the runaway success of Apple’s OSX on Mobile, specifically the iPhone.With Google’s Android platform on the horizon, and iPhone3G’s entry into the Singapore market (Singapore is one of the highest penetration of mobile technology), Symbian have to do something really special to capture or sustain their leadership.New HTC products using Windows Mobile like the HTC Diamond, HTC Touch Pro or even the HTC Raphael, I really hope Symbian comes out with their Touch Series very soon to let us consumer have a choice, that is, if iPhone3G doesn’t force their way up the market when it’s released.Knowing Apple’s cult status in Singapore, Symbian’s target of retaining their market leadership seems bleak. 

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