Following last week’s announced buyout by Nokia, Symbian has announced it first new open source plan: the Symbian Partner Network (SPN). The program was launched in order to encourage innovation within the platform, according to a Symbian statement, “it promises to allow developers to collaborate more closely with the Symbian ecosystem and accelerate developments with Symbian OS,” in part by offering a reduced annual membership fee of $1,500.

Other benefits of the program include: simplified sign-up process, click-through licenses and online payment system; access to SDN++ containing the SPN Zone; improved self-service technical support via wikis, forums, SPN Helpdesk; early access to information such as technology roadmaps and other documentation; and enhanced marketing and business development opportunities including admission to private events, such as the annual Symbian Partner Event.

“We are always evolving to enable our partners and customers to be at the forefront of innovation, ensuring a greater choice of compelling ecosystem solutions for creating best in class phones based on Symbian OS,” said Mike Whittingham, vice president of Ecosystem Development for Symbian, in a statement. “The new Symbian Partner Network program offers more value to our ever-growing and vibrant ecosystem and supports the many services, application and content providers worldwide whose after-market products enhance the value of the Symbian platform.”