F-Secure partners with Symbian to develop content security technologies for Smartphones and Communicators

Helsinki, Finland - April 24, 2001

F-Secure today announced that it has signed an agreement with Symbian to cooperate in the development and worldwide marketing of a range of security technologies for next generation mobile phones based on the Symbian platform.

In joining the Embedded Technology Partner program of Symbian, F-Secure, the leading provider of content security applications for wireless devices, intensifies its development efforts for one of the most important and fastest-growing platforms in the world. The joint agreement gives F-Secure advance access to technology information from Symbian.

Symbian's Embedded Technology Partner program offers leading technology specialists the opportunity to work closely with Symbian in developing enabling technologies and engage in co-marketing campaigns, thus adding value to the Symbian platform. Symbian will also assist Technology Partners in engaging directly with Symbian's licensees, enabling rapid time-to-market for a wide range of smartphones and communicators. Symbian's licensees include Ericsson, Kenwood, Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic, Psion, Sanyo, Siemens and Sony.

Jeremy Copp, VP Business Relationships, Symbian said, “Symbian-based devices can be used to store and process many kinds of information. Securing the content with reliable data security technology is an important enabler of a good, safe user experience. F-Secure, as a leading provider of content security software that is optimized for our operating system, is an ideal partner for developing complimentary security technology for the Symbian platform.”

Ilkka Starck, Vice President and General Manager of Wireless Security Solutions at F-Secure Corporation said, “The new wireless information devices are tomorrow’s personal computers. Symbian is becoming a major operating system for these devices, and we want to participate in developing the best possible content security solutions for the platform. This partnership is an important step in making it happen.”

F-Secure has taken determined steps to incorporate wireless security expertise into its core strategy. In 2000, the company launched the world’s first content security product for the Symbian platform. Today, F-Secure is in the leading technology position in the emerging security applications market for smartphones and communicators. Joining Symbian’s Embedded Technology Partner program was a natural outgrowth of that experience.