Nokia announced today that it is using best-of-breed open source software as the basis of a new mobile browser for its world leading smartphone software, the Series 60 Platform. The new browser aims at an unparalleled user experience when browsing full Web pages on a smartphone screen.

A key component of this development has been Nokia's cooperation with Apple, as the Series 60 browser will use the same open source components, WebCore and JavaScriptCore, that Apple uses in its popular Safari Internet browser. Based on KHTML and KJS from KDE's "Konqueror" open source project, this software has enabled Safari to achieve industry-leading features and performance. Nokia intends to continue its collaboration with Apple and actively participate in the open source community to further develop and enhance these components, contributing Nokia's expertise in mobility.

"Apple is pleased to assist Nokia in creating their new Series 60 browser based on the same KHTML open source technology that powers Apple's Safari," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "The Safari Web Kit's blazing performance, efficient code base and support for open standards make it an ideal open source technology for projects like Nokia's new Series 60 browser."
 
The new Series 60 browser will be available to all Series 60 licensees as a standard Series 60 application during the first half of 2006. The browser will support all features of the current Series 60 browser as well as being enhanced with increased performance and exciting new features.