Nokia Moves to Counter iPhone

In a move aimed at bolstering its ability to compete with Apple's iPhone, Nokia is acquiring smartphone software-maker Symbian and moving toward increased cooperation with other mobile-phone industry veterans. Top handset makers and providers will participate in a nonprofit foundation to handle marketing and coordination for developers, and Symbian will combine its software into one open-source platform, the Wall Street Journal reports.

"This is going to stimulate the developer community a lot," said a senior vice president in Motorola's mobile-device unit. "For carriers it will be easier to develop applications and services on multiple handsets." A Nokia exec agreed it would lead to "faster, better products." Nokia already owned part of Symbian and is acquiring the remaining 52% for roughly $410 million. (More Nokia stories.)