Nokia Releases 'Web Browser for S60' Engine Code to Open Source Community

May 24, 2006; 03:17 AM
Nokia announced the release to the global open source software community of the source code for S60 WebKit, the engine for its leading-edge Web Browser for S60, marking a turning point in the drive toward an open code base for web browsers used
on mobile devices.
    Nokia's contribution of the S60 WebKit source code, with key mobility
enhancements that make WebKit easier to port to different mobile platforms,
will enable reduced fragmentation in the next generation of mobile
browsers, simplifying content development for the mobile web and
accelerating adoption of mobile browsing by millions of smartphone users
worldwide.
    The web browser source code released by Nokia comes under the terms of
the open source BSD License, a highly permissive software license with few
requirements that is one of the most popular licenses among free software
developers worldwide. The source code will be made available to open source
developers through the WebKit Open Source Project (http://www.webkit.org).
    Nokia's open sourcing of the engine to its high-performance S60 mobile
browser, which replicates on handheld devices the true web-page rendering
of complete desktop browsers, marks the start of a collaborative open
source effort that will enable smartphone users industry-wide to push
beyond the millions of mobile-friendly pages currently on the web and begin
to experience full web browsing of the estimated 25 billion pages on the
Internet today.
    "Nokia's open source based Web Browser for S60 leads the way for
Internet browsing on mobile devices," said Przemek Czarnecki, executive
vice president of Terminal Technology, T-Mobile International. "Its
innovative handling of website navigation, which is similar to using a web
browser on the desktop, is of particular interest to T-Mobile as we are
closely working on Internet browsing with our product 'web'n'walk'. The use
of open source to achieve greater website compatibility is an important
strategy for the mobile industry."
    Nokia's recently launched Web Browser for S60 enables full mobile
browsing of complete web pages as they exist on the Internet, leveraging
compatibility with AJAX technologies and support for dynamic HTML and
scripting language. The release of source code for the S60 Webkit browser
engine, based on WebCore and JavaScriptCore components of Apple's
award-winning Safari browser, will be accompanied by Nokia's active
participation with the open source community in developing further
enhancements to the browser, sharing changes to the core browser engine as
they are made in real time.
    "This initiative will attract a critical mass of open source software
developers to build a consistent, web browser engine as the clearest path
to minimize fragmentation in the mobile browser market," said Lee Epting,
vice president of Nokia's global software developer support program, Forum
Nokia. "With nearly 100 million smartphones deployed worldwide, a common
open source solution driving mobile web browser consistency will deliver on
the long-awaited promise of full-web browsing and a true web experience for
smartphone users around the globe."
    "Nokia is pleased to deliver its mobility enhancements to the S60
browser engine and excited that developers will be collaborating through
Webkit with the open source community on real-time evolution of the browser
core code, paving the way toward broad adoption of an open source solution
for next-generation browsing throughout the mobile industry," said Heikki
Heinaro, vice president for S60 applications, Nokia.
    In addition to its modular, extensible architecture and open
interfaces, key features of the code that Nokia is contributing to the open
source community include:
    - Memory manager, designed specifically to handle out-of-memory
situations on the device;
    - Mouse Pointer, delivering a desktop-like navigation experience;
    - Frames rendered as tables;
    - Full support for "Text Search" capabilities;
    - Reference UI, a reference implementation of standard browser
user-interface features;
    - Full mobility support for dynamic HTML and the scripting language
that enables it; and,
    - Preservation on mobile screens of original designer-intended web page
layouts, with text custom-fitted to the mobile display width.
    The first Nokia devices to include the Web browser for S60 will be
ESeries (E60, E61 and E70) and NSeries devices (N71, N73, N80, N91, N92 and
N93), as well as the Nokia 3250 Phone. Shipment of select models has
already begun and others will come available throughout the remainder of
the second quarter.
    More information about Web Browser for S60 can be found online at
http://s60.com/browser. Developers wishing to learn more about available
tools enabling them to modify and contribute to the Web browser for S60, as
well as build on top of the browser to provide rich content for their
applications, can visit http://opensource.nokia.com/projects/S60browser.
    About S60
    The S60 platform, built on the Symbian OS, is the leading smartphone
software in the world and it is licensed by some of the foremost mobile
phone manufacturers in the market. The flexibility of the S60 platform
allows for various hardware designs and software configurations. This is
demonstrated through the multitude of S60 devices already available on the
market. Through its award-winning user interface, extensive support for new
mobile services and the innovation potential for partner solutions, the S60
provides an open and scalable business opportunity for mobile operators and
3rd party developers. For further information about S60 news and community,
please visit http://www.s60.com .
    About Forum Nokia
    Nokia's global developer program, Forum Nokia connects developers to
tools, technical information, support, and distribution channels they can
use to build and market applications around the globe. From offices in the
U.S., Europe, Japan, China, and Singapore, Forum Nokia provides technical
and business development support to developers and operators to assist them
in achieving their goal of successfully launching applications and services
to consumers and enterprises. More information is available at
http://www.forum.nokia.com .
    About Nokia
    Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth
and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people
to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and
innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging,
games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and
services for network operators and corporations.
    http://www.nokia.com