Symbian Foundations says Android open source is just marketing
Head of the newly formed Symbian Foundation (a non-profit organisation launched by Nokia when it acquired the SymbianOS), Lee Williams, has made a surprising and aggressive statement regarding the accessibility of Googles Android platform.
Android is not open. Its a marketing label, Williams said. Its controlled by Google. Its a pretty label but I dont think the use of Linux is synonymous with open and they may have made that mistake of assuming it is.
Googles Rich Miner was quick to answer the Symbian Foundations statement as misleading, and pointed out that Google hasnt held back any technology from the open source community.
He also highlighted the Symbian Foundations restricted membership policy (individuals need not apply) and an annual fee of $1500.
If youre talking about a platform and the source code isnt completely available for that platform, I would say its misleading to call that platform open, Miner responded.
The first of the Symbian Foundations handsets were announced at the recent World Mobile Congress, so Williamss statement comes as the two platforms prepare to go toe-to-toe in the open source market.
Looks like the competition just got aggressive.