Operating system company Symbian Ltd. announced a new certification program to provide a single testing process for all Symbian-based applications. The move is an effort to smooth out the creation and delivery of third-party smart-phone applications, and comes on the heels of several similar efforts from other players.
Symbian said its new Symbian Signed program tests applications against industry-agreed criteria in support of network operator and mobile manufacturer requirements. The program assures that each signed application will work correctly on various Symbian handsets and carrier networks and includes approved security features. T-Mobile, Orange, Handango and other companies voiced support for the program, and handset makers Nokia Corp., Sendo and Sony Ericsson said they will replace their own testing methods with the Symbian Signed program.
Symbian said Cidercone Wireless Oy manages the Symbian Signed Web site, Capgemini offers testing services and VeriSign offers Authenticated Content Signing services, providing a means for the validation and acceptance of applications.
Microsoft Corp. has a similar testing and certification program for its Smartphone operating system, as does PalmSource Inc. Sun Microsystems Inc. recently launched a certification program for its Java platform, and Qualcomm manages the testing and certification for its BREW application download system.
