Samsung has switched to Apple’s Safari browser in its latest Symbian-powered smartphone, the Samsung L870.

The new device was introduced today at Barcelona’s S60 trade show. It runs Symbian v9.3 and S60 third Edition Feature Pack 2, but it’s the alleged use of the Safari browser that’s most likely to raise a stir, as it’s the same browser as used on the iPod touch and iPhone.

That consumer electronic powerhouse Samsung has chosen to adopt Apple’s world class browser for its new device underlines the success of the iPhone. It also reflects the strong relationship between the two firms - Samsung provides much of Apple’s flash memory, for example, and Apple made a $100 million tactical investment in the company for display production in 1999.

Aimed at business users, the 50-x-102-x-13.5mm Samsung L870 has a 2.4-inch colour TFT screen (display resolution 240-x-320). The tri-band L870 also carries an FM tuner, microphone, speaker, and a 3.1-megapixel camera.

L870's pre-installed applications include an advanced task manager Checkit, PIMs (Personal information manager) homescreen, Team manager and business card recognition function.

"We are happy to compliment our product portfolio with yet another appealing S60 mobile, Samsung L870 that is fully customized with style, performance and user interface," said Jongin Kim, Vice President of Mobile Communication Division of Samsung Electronics. "With S60, we can successfully deliver the latest mobile technology with fully customizable applications and intuitive user interfaces."

The Samsung SGH-L870 will be available in Europe around August this year.

Should other phone manufacturers migrate to Safari, the move may call into question the future for Windows Mobile, though Apple is unlikely to license OS X Mobile for smartphones to other manufacturers, at least, on previous form.