Symbian and Navicore Partner to Provide Easy and Feature-Rich Navigation Content on Symbian OS™

The Symbian Smartphone Show, London, October 17, 2006 – Navicore Ltd, a leading European provider of easy-to-use GPS navigation software for smartphones, today announced that it has joined the Symbian Platinum Program to support the growing market for Symbian smartphones and applications.

Symbian develops and licenses Symbian OS, the market leading open operating system for advanced, data-enabled mobile phones also known as smartphones, to the world’s leading handset manufacturers. Symbian OS powers today’s most popular smartphones.

Symbian smartphones are growing in popularity. During H1 2006, Symbian worldwide smartphone shipments grew more than 65% compared to H1 2005.  According to John Jackson, Director, Wireless/Mobile Technologies, Yankee Group, by 2010, well over 200 million smartphones will be selling worldwide each year, representing 18% of annual global volumes.

Navicore Personal, the award winning, easy-to-use GPS-navigator is specifically developed for connected mobile devices and is compatible with more than 30 Symbian smartphones. Navicore Personal is not only a full navigation system for use when driving, cycling or walking, but also a convenient pocket guide that includes thousands of points-of-interest such as restaurants, hotels, petrol stations and local tourist venues. Yesterday, Navicore introduced its next generation of GPS navigation software, Navicore Personal 2007, to be shipped in November 2006.

"This partnership is perfectly in sync with our commitment to further expand our relationship with key players in the mobile arena. We welcome the support provided by the Symbian Platinum Program in further developing our award-winning mobile navigation products and services to Navicore customers on the move," said Juha Murtopuro, CEO, Navicore Ltd.

“Standalone GPS navigation units are in great demand but consumers are starting to realise they can get an equally good and often less expensive solution on their smartphones. Navicore offers not only GPS navigation but a whole host of guides and points of interest adding further value to consumers" added Alan Roderick, head of partner marketing, Symbian. “We are delighted that Navicore has joined our Platinum Partnership program, as this partnership underscores our joint commitment to bring innovative GPS solutions to the growing Symbian OS ecosystem.”

Media enquiries 

Marita Markkula

Communications Director

Navicore Ltd

Tel. +358 40 581 1947

marita.markkula@navicore.fi

Paul Jarratt                   

Symbian Limited                       

+ 44 207 154 1194

press@symbian.com

About the Symbian Platinum Program

The Symbian Platinum Program includes companies that have a technology or strategic position that is key to the success of mobile computing technology surrounding Symbian OS. As part of the program, Platinum Partners benefit from a range of commercial services, including technical support and joint marketing opportunities as well as privileged access to Symbian OS source code and a dedicated Partner Support team.

About Navicore

Navicore is a provider of interactive navigation products for smart phones which is one of the fastest growing categories in the booming navigation market. Navicore software together with a GPS turns user’s smart phones into a fully functional navigator that is always with them. A smart phone based solution provides the most convenient and easiest way to navigate while driving a car, cycling or walking. Navicore products are sold in 20 countries across Europe. For more information, please visit www.navicoretech.com.

Symbian is a software licensing company that develops and licenses Symbian OS, the market leading open operating system for advanced, data-enabled mobile phones, also known as smartphones.

Symbian licenses Symbian OS to the world’s leading handset manufacturers and has built close co-operative business relationships with leading companies across the mobile industry.  During H1 2006, 24 million Symbian smartphones were sold worldwide to over 250 major network operators, bringing the total number of Symbian OS phones shipped to 82.8 million.

Symbian has its headquarters in London, United Kingdom with offices in the United States, Europe (England and Sweden (UIQ Technology AB)), Israel and Asia (India, P.R. China, Korea, and Japan). For more information, please visit www.symbian.com