Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible

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Sun, 2006-01-29 19:04
bluebox
Joined: 2006-01-29
 Forum posts: 3
Hey

Are any of you guys Symbian freelancers?  I am currently working as a Symbian programmer and would like to go freelance.  However I don't know how to get started, where and how to get work, how much work is there?  Is it even possible to make a living as a Symbian freelancer?  If anyone knows anything about being a freelancer I would be interested to hear what you have to say.

Garry.

Mon, 2006-01-30 18:09
N_A
Forum Nokia Champion
Joined: 2003-06-10
 Forum posts: 708
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
Probably to a significant degree it will depend on where in the world you are (the more local/nearby companies needing Symbian developers you find, the better are your chances, unless you already have international merit).
 
Tue, 2006-01-31 09:11
eric
NewLC AdministratorSymbian AccreditedForum Nokia Champion
Joined: 2003-01-14
 Forum posts: 1918
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
I agree with N/A... This is obviously possible (I used to be one - now established as a small company rather than just a freelance). Finding interesting projects is not always easy if you don't have contacts in the industry or companies doing some mobile or Symbian development around you....

Eric Bustarret
NewLC Founder & CEO / Professional Symbian OS Consultant

 
Wed, 2006-02-01 11:34
bluebox
Joined: 2006-01-29
 Forum posts: 3
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
Hey

I am located in Oulu, Finland there are hundreds of IT companies here including Nokia, who is my current employer.  I was thinking of something part-time first, as I am too scared to do it full time.  I have a baby etc....  Therefore I was thinking of getting work though the net first, small projects etc.. to build up some profile.  Do you think this is a good idea?
 
Wed, 2006-02-01 11:44
doctor
Joined: 2003-10-15
 Forum posts: 78
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
Well, if your current contract allows you doing the SW for others (that I doubt), than why not. You can try running the first project in the night time and if it works, switch to the part-time and then to permanent freelancing.

Compilable Symbian Code Examples

 
Wed, 2006-02-01 21:51
N_A
Forum Nokia Champion
Joined: 2003-06-10
 Forum posts: 708
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
Prove your worth while staying employed by writing useful free apps.

However, make also sure your employer/manager is aware of your activities, and that you do not use your employer's resources for your own free-time activities; not their PCs, not software licenses for your employer's use, not their network connections, not your working time, also do not use any internal tools or documents, etc.

If you want to earn money doing such activities while employed, make especially sure that your employer knows about your extra job and gives you written permission to do so on your own time (especially if it is in the same field, and could be considered competing with your employer).
 
Wed, 2006-02-01 23:22
serg3d
Joined: 2004-05-23
 Forum posts: 114
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
You can start by switching to contract job for you employer. Ask you boss/human resource manager if it's possible. On one of my job in telecom sector where were some people who swtiched from permanent psoition to contract and back, depending on what was more suitable for them. That was during high-tech bubble though.

CellaGameS.com

 
Thu, 2006-02-02 09:07
eric
NewLC AdministratorSymbian AccreditedForum Nokia Champion
Joined: 2003-01-14
 Forum posts: 1918
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
I agree with N/A.... Write a couple of applications while you have a paid job. Once you start as a freelance, you'll need to prove your skill and having something to show is a great help.

Eric Bustarret
NewLC Founder & CEO / Professional Symbian OS Consultant

 
Thu, 2006-02-02 09:58
akboom
Joined: 2005-01-20
 Forum posts: 16
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
I second what Eric and others mention. Write some freeware/shareware code in your spare time. If you ask your manager I'm sure he'll even allow you to use work resources for the same.

I'm not sure what the contract situation in Oulu/Finland is like but in the UK showing your previous experience with Nokia and some freeware/shareware stuff will make getting a Symbian development contract pretty easy.

When you say freelancer do you mean to include contract work or a pure freelancer?

Boom

Boomslang Studios

 
Thu, 2006-02-02 13:21
bluebox
Joined: 2006-01-29
 Forum posts: 3
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
Thanks, there have been some good ideas here.  I have looked at my contract and it says that I can do other work if I declare it beforehand.  I will go with the suggestion of writing a freeware app first to give myself credibility.  I plan to do both freelance and contract, the main reason to do it is to be my own boss Wink  I won't be doing it at work, I'm not sure if it would be approved Smiley and I wouldn't have the time to do both anyhow.

Thanks for the suggestions.
 
Fri, 2006-02-03 10:37
paulrenn
Joined: 2003-10-24
 Forum posts: 21
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
Hei Garry

Yes, it is possible to find freelance work, but there is not so much here in Finland (I am also working in Nokia, in Symbian, in Oulu... Wink ) - you will really need to be prepared to move around if you want to stay long term in this field; I mean, all over Europe.  I seriously doubt Nokia would let you switch to a freelance contract, otherwise everyone would want to do so.

Paul
Addicted to phones

 
Sun, 2006-02-05 20:34
fig7
Joined: 2004-07-17
 Forum posts: 110
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
Hi Garry,

If you are working at Nokia you are working on S60 V3, right? OggPlay needs porting to S60 V3! I reckon it's is an ideal project to work on to "prove your worth". The project is hosted on SourceForge:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/symbianoggplay

Send me an email via SourceForge (fig7@users.sourceforge.net) if you're interested.

Cheers,
Stuart
 
Mon, 2006-02-06 09:04
akboom
Joined: 2005-01-20
 Forum posts: 16
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
Hey Paul, how did you end up in cold cold Finland. You used to be with SNET right; Basingstoke? Wink

AMK

Quote from: paulrenn
Hei Garry

Yes, it is possible to find freelance work, but there is not so much here in Finland (I am also working in Nokia, in Symbian, in Oulu... Wink ) - you will really need to be prepared to move around if you want to stay long term in this field; I mean, all over Europe.  I seriously doubt Nokia would let you switch to a freelance contract, otherwise everyone would want to do so.

Boomslang Studios

 
Tue, 2006-02-07 12:10
paulrenn
Joined: 2003-10-24
 Forum posts: 21
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
Nah, wasn't me...
but the suggestion above looks like a nice project for sure!

Paul
Addicted to phones

 
Mon, 2006-10-16 18:55
ride45
Joined: 2006-10-16
 Forum posts: 4
Re: Is a Symbian Freelancer Possible
We will engage freelance Symbian developers, because we are not in the business of cranking out Symbian Apps, but will from time to time require a Symbian version of a particular application being developed.   Actually, I'll check with my team, but we may need a developer on freelance to do a port from OS 7 &  8 to OS9
send me your resume and I'll pass it along..
We're based in Canada and that would be most ideal, but it could work with an oversees developer if they can work collaboratively while being remote. 
 
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