Written by: Steve Bridges

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The Ericsson R380s is the first GSM mobile phone to use the Symbian EPOC32 operating system, which gives the phone the functions that make it a smartphone. The original concept for the R380s was to provide mobile phone and personal organizer functionality in a single phone-sized device. The device was characterized as a business tool rather than a lifestyle accessory. As development progressed, the specification was modified to include a WAP browser, unified messaging (e-mail and SMS), and secure access to restricted-access systems, such as a corporate intranet. The author explains why EPOC was chosen, and describes the work required to develop the R380s software from EPOC32.

[First published in Ericsson Review no. 01, 2001]