Editing S60 (software platform) (section)

== Overview ==
[[File:5800 idle screen.png|thumb|S60 5th Edition idle screen. Bottom left "button" brings up a virtual number pad, to compensate for removal of actual numerical keys.]]

The S60 [[middleware]] was a multivendor standard for smartphones that supports application development in [[Java (programming language)|Java]] [[Mobile Information Device Profile|MIDP]], [[C++]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]]<ref name="Pyþon">{{citation | url = http://www.forum.nokia.com/Resources_and_Information/Tools/Runtimes/Python_for_S60/ | publisher = Nokia | title = Python for S60 | access-date = 31 December 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081217180059/http://www.forum.nokia.com/Resources_and_Information/Tools/Runtimes/Python_for_S60/ | archive-date = 17 December 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> and [[Adobe Flash]]. Its [[API]] was called Avkon UI.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2009/08/05/s60-avkon-api-to-be-replaced-by-ui-toolkit-qt/|title=S60 Avkon API to be replaced by UI Toolkit Qt – PhonesReviews UK- Mobiles, Apps, Networks, Software, Tablet etc|date=5 August 2009|website=phonesreview.co.uk}}</ref> S60 consists of a suite of libraries and standard applications, such as telephony, [[personal information manager]] (PIM) tools, and [[Helix project|Helix]]-based [[multimedia]] players. It was intended to power fully featured modern phones with large colour screens, which are commonly known as [[smartphone]]s.

Originally, the most distinguishing feature of S60 phones was that they allowed users to install new applications after purchase. Unlike a standard desktop platform, however, the built-in apps are rarely upgraded by the vendor beyond bug fixes. New features are only added to phones while they are being developed rather than after public release. Certain buttons are standardized, such as a menu key, a four way joystick or d-pad, left and right soft keys and a clear key.

S60 was mainly used by Nokia but they also licensed it to a few other manufacturers, including [[Lenovo]], [[LG Electronics]], [[Panasonic]], [[Samsung]],<ref name="S60">{{citation | url = http://www.s60.com/life/thisiss60/S60forbusiness/licensees | title = Licensees | publisher = S60 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090218153813/http://www.s60.com/life/thisiss60/S60forbusiness/licensees | archive-date = 18 February 2009 }}</ref> [[Sendo]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.golem.de/0310/28067.html|language=de|publisher=Golem.de|title=Symbian-Smartphone von Sendo mit Digitalkamera samt Blitz|access-date=15 January 2011|date=21 October 2003|first=Ingo|last=Pakalski}}</ref> [[Siemens Mobile]], [[Sony Ericsson]], [[Samsung|Solstice]] and [[Vertu]]. Sony Ericsson notably was the main vendor using the competing [[UIQ]] Symbian interface.

In addition to the manufacturers the community includes:
* Software integration companies such as [[Sasken Communication Technologies|Sasken]], [[Elektrobit]], [[Teleca]], Digia, Mobica, Atelier.tm
* Semiconductor companies [[Texas Instruments]], [[STMicroelectronics]], [[Broadcom]], [[Sony]], [[Freescale Semiconductor]], [[Samsung Electronics]]
* Operators such as [[Vodafone]] and [[Orange SA|Orange]] who develop and provide S60-based mobile applications and services
* Software developers and independent software vendors (ISVs).