How to: Symbian Sign Applications using Open Signed (need publisher ID)
March 4, 2008 by Dario Soltani
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The people at Symbian Signed has worked hard to provide us, the users, an easy way of signing our applications without using additional applications or paying Publisher ID’s. The whole process is now handled directly from the Symbian Signed webpage and all you need is a working e-mail adress. The service is still in beta and is somewhat limited which is also why I myself have not had a chance to try it out yet so consider this post a beta aswell for now (but I will of course, and I’ll update this post when I have).
Many cudos to all the people and Symbian Signed who made this a reality!
The main features of this signing option are:
- the process is online
- no Publisher ID is required
- no Symbian Signed account is required
- no tool downloads are required, so it is platform independent
- all user and most system capabilities may be requested (excludes the Restricted System Capabilities CommDD, DiskAdmin, NetworkControl, MultimediaDD and Device Manufacturer capabilities)
- applications are restricted to one device, specified by IMEI
- there is no cost to developers.
So you want to sign an unsigned freeware or shareware application/game? No problem, it should be easy, keep reading after the break and I’ll guide you all the way.
Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Checklist
» Requires a valid email account.
» Developers must list the Capabilities required by the application as part of the online process, and accept an online legal agreement.
» Device IMEI must be known.
Step 1. Go to the Symbian Signed public website and access the service
The information you provide will be encoded into a Developer Certificate which the portal will generate and use to sign your application. You will not be able to download the Developer Certificate.
- Go to www.symbiansigned.com and click on the Symbian Signed Overview tab.
- From the Welcome page click on the Open Signed Online link (may be unavailable from time to time during the beta period) to go to the online submission page.
- Enter the requested information in the online form, including device IMEI (which you can get with your phone by typing *#06# in idle mode or by simply checking the sticker underneath the batteryholder) and your name or username if you have one.
- Select the capabilities required by your application.
- On your local machine, navigate to the SIS file of the application you are submitting for signing.
- Enter the security code displayed and prompted for.
- Click to view the legal agreement.
- Click on Close after you have read the legal agreement.
Step 2. Supply a valid email address
You will need to supply a valid email address, to which a link to your signed application will be sent when signing is complete.
- Enter a valid email address.
- Click on the Submit button to complete the process.
Step 3. Confirm your email address
An email will be sent to you containing a link to confirm your email address. Click the link to confirm.
Step 4: Access your email account to download your signed application
An email will be sent to you containing a link to your Developer Certificate signed application SIS file. Click the link to download your application.
Restrictions and Limits
- This signing option is not to be used for any form of commercial distribution of applications.
- If UIDs from the protected range are used, they must have been allocated to the submitter.
- UIDs outside the protected range may be used.
- No Publisher ID is required so there is no validation of developer identity, except for a confirmation that the email address supplied is live at the time of certificate issue. Therefore, end users may be presented with an install time warning and prompted to complete installation.
- Applications are restricted by device IMEI to one device.
- No access to Restricted System Capabilities or Device Manufacturer Capabilities.
- Applications are signed with a Developer Certificate against the Symbian A Root certificate.
- Signed applications are valid for 36 months from the date of signing.
Good luck and remember, all feedback is good feedback. Let us know how you did.







[...] How to: Symbian Sign Applications using Open Signed (without a Publisher ID) [...]
I have been having trouble with getting a cert file from Symbian Signed, especially with their new process. This might come in handy. Thanks.
from a brief look at there new system, it is still completly useless to us people without developer publisher ID, as only the developer who has the regestered UID of the application tied to his/her email address can sign the application, so we still cant sign freeware applications unless we own the UID of the application
completly suck, and this has killed the freeware community and will probally make the warez scene ever more of a problem than it allready is..
No developer with an intact brain will ever release an unsigned application. No end-user with an intact brain will ever install an unsigned/uncertified application. Use the Symbian Signed for Freeware release channel.
SYMBIANSIGNED SUCKS!….ITS THE WORST THING THAT HAPPENED TO SYMBIAN USERS…!
Echoing Matyn Britton’s comments, this post should not be titled ‘without a publisher ID’ because unless the publisher has specifically tied the UID to your IMEI then it wont sign with out the Publisher ID. So for people like Samir’s Nokmote, which he has designated a freeware app, this is a load of garbage - it must be against competition rules or something - people installing freeware are doing nothing illegal - it would like Vista not allowing ‘free’ programs like Acrobat reader not to be installed.
From Symbian point of view - hats off you have produced a secure method to protect software - problem is by doing such you may kill the market you are trying to protect.
There must be some way to sign freeware apps…any ideas???
Correction…UID tied to email…
Open Signed Online it always give this error:
FAILURE: Submitted .sis file uses a UID that is not allocated to the account holder matching this email address (0×20000140 0×20000139 0×2000013b 0×2000013a 0×20000138 0×2000013c )
they should really change their name to simplysucks! one of the main reasons i upgraded my standard N95 to the 8GB version was that i knew i could sign apps for it…but no! because i dont want to spend $200 on a publisher id, i havta b locked out!! they might as well take away the DevCert request tool now anyway coz its utterly useless with their new regime!! total bulls**t!!…i’m gonna spend the next few weeks lookin out for a way to sign apps without using simplysucks!!
Well that didnd’t work, but why am I not supprised as I’ve been trying to get this little sucker signed for 3 days now, I keep getting all different advise different programs which are supposed to sign it for you but nothing. I even signed up to symbian signed what a waste of time that was………. If I hadn’t have seen this program working on the net and seen how cool it was I woulodn’t give a crap but I’ve seen it in action and I want it………..can someone here sign it for me???
To just test my freeware ping utuilty i have to pay $200 for publisher id. Does Symbian hates its own OS?
Looks like KGB rules symbian.
Symbian really did it this time, they made it simply suck, how the earth am i going to sign freeware products now without the UID being open. they are really going to start making the market fall into pieces. Symbian get the customers not try start losing them.
All the developers who release their ‘freeware’ app as UNSIGNED are fuck faced twat-arses
Error Helpme
FAILURE: Submitted .sis file uses uses capabilites that were not selected
FAILURE: Submitted .sis file uses a UID that is not allocated to the account holder matching this email address (0×20000140 0×20000139 0×2000013b 0×2000013a 0×20000138 0×2000013c )
Hi list
The solution here is to write a signed app which loads unsigned apps.
This can then expose a runtime api which can defeat the entire system.
In the meantime warn your friends off. I’ve already warned Russell about this. He says “that’s what happens when juniors are left in charge of a serious projects”
Symbian phones are off his list but then again so are microsoft phones.
I tried to use Open Signed Online, but after I load my applocation its says that:
file is too large.
….
That does it. I’m selling my n96 and going to but iphone.
windows mobile forever. symbian - trash
If Nokia doesn’t fix this quickly it will go bankrup, I sent my n95 back and got me an windows-mobile compatible, so far so good. No locking bulshit! Fuck symbian!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I bet it is related to the bush admin
Getting pretty fed up with the idiotic FAILURE: Submitted .sis file uses a UID that is not allocated to the account holder matching this email address (0×20011d3e ).
Good going Symbian, you are locking out freeware tools to the masses. Let’s see you ask for money for each app we install on our phones through the carriers.. I won’t be surprised if that happened down the road. Shitty system.
To think I was even considerering a N96. I’ll just stick to my N95 and watch to see if this fiasco resolves. No one in there right mind, aware of these problems, would buy into the symbian operating system, when Symbian have locked them out of the freeware market place. At the moment I wouldn’t buy any symbian phone/software, as a protest to what is going on.
luckily i got 2 csr approved last year,before symbian sign start forcing us to pay for published ID. now i can sign unsign freeware for 2 phones only…which is mine & my fren…
Very important
to sign applications you must have two files certificate and key and a software sissigner for more information contact me by mail oualihc@hotmail.fr I remain sign any applications
SignHelper - worth checking out this link to avoid paying for signing every new release of your Symbian applications - http://www.maccent.com/signhelper.php
This is so low for a Symbian OMG…….i have to say they really suck.I’ve been tryin’ to sign some apps since yesterday,but thats was just a waste of time :S
Dear SIMPLY (NOT) SYMBIAN
i’m a newbie, i bought recently a Nokia N95.
And now i realize:
So sad. Developers… freeks, geeks. Great progz, thmz and appz for nothing.
Why should be easy if can be complicate! right?!
These last days i’m wasting my time on the web and pc trying to solve how to install one free app for Ex: rotateme (for nokia n95).
I’n not a MENSA member and cause of that i dont know how to copy progz and other to my phone. I tryed (lookz almost) everithing.
I have an IQ of 135, sometines less
When i succeed to install somethim that cost me a lot of time. (Remembre the time of ”DragAndDropAndLook!ItWorks!”??… NOT?…. oh…jeah, that’s past…
And i’m so happy. Not.
Half world is seek of poverty and the other half of certificate errors.
CAN SOMEONE TELL ME PLEASE: WHEN SHOULD THE LITTLE USERS BE CAPABLE TO EASELY INSTALL AND RUN (FREE or not) GAMES, APPLICATIONS, THEMES, PROGRAMS AND MANY OTHER NICE STUFFS ????????
Anyone, answer me please (”echo sound”)
Try at least to fix the stupid problems on the web page.
Greetz from the land of 1000 ilands.
which email id will be work with the Symbiansigned.com site.