Symbian sold 20.4 million smartphone software licences in the third quarter of 2007, a rise of 56 per cent from 13 million last year.

Overall revenue increased to $54.2m, up 30 per cent from the $40.3m Symbian posted last year. The company has now seen 165 million smartphones shipped using its mobile operating system (OS) since launch in 1998.

“I am excited by the potential of smartphone technology, the size of its market, and how Symbian can drive such potential," said chief executive Nigel Clifford.

"With new Symbian OS technology including FreeWay, ScreenPlay and SMP, commitment from the world’s leading handset vendors and user interface partners, continued success in Japan and China, and ecosystem vibrancy as demonstrated at the Smartphone Show, I am confident that Symbian will continue to lead the growing smartphone market, to outperform the competition, and to erode other consumer electronic device markets."