Shipments of open source Symbian handsets are expected to more than double over the next five years, reaching 180 million by 2014, according to a new report from Juniper Research. The platform faces strong competition, however, in a Smartphone marketplace which is increasingly targeting consumers and prosumers, as well as corporate customers, with the result that its overall market share will remain virtually unchanged over that period.
The report, Mobile Open Source Operating Systems: Markets & Opportunities 2009-2014, also finds that the number of Smartphones shipped with open source operating systems will increase from 106 million this year to 223 million by 2014.
The report notes that operating systems and the applications they run are playing an increasingly important role in the differentiation of new Smartphones and a key factor in users choice of handset. The report compares and evaluates the value of the three consortiums: Symbian Foundation, LiMo Foundation and Open Handset Alliance (Android), analysing the business models for both proprietary and open source.
A 6-year regional forecasting suite including market share by operating system is provided, as well as relative year-on-year growth for Smartphone operating systems. The report also examines how the App Store approach has impacted the operating system market, and investigates future plans are for the development of operating systems.
Each one of the open source operating systems is analysed, looking at its history, technology, indicative handset vendors, and at how the licensing process works.
The report seeks to answer the following questions:

• How has the recent trend towards open source impacted the rest of the value chain?
• How will the fortunes of the main players in the operating systems market develop over the next six years?
• How will the increasing openness in the operating systems market effect network operators?
• Why has the importance of the operating system risen from the invisible to the unavoidable?
• Will all the current operating systems survive over the forecast period?
• Why did Nokia buy Symbian and give away all of its technology?

The report costs 1,750 for a single-user licence; 2,500 for a 2-5 user licence; or 3,750 for an Enterprise licence.
Theres more information here. And a free Whitepaper here.