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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SPYX5TAMbtALnB2X83Fe3saTBUxpNbOqMpeKpKSBVaPrlks47tp0EPPN4OJf1RUB
 /s3+zGNiL6jldFbECaP5vw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000278352-04-000002.txt : 20040114
<SEC-HEADER>0000278352-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040114160250
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000278352-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040107
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GREENQUIST MARK T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001221115

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09802
		FILM NUMBER:		04525058

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES INC
		STREET 2:		ONE SYMBOL PLZ.
		CITY:			HOLTSVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11742

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES INC
		STREET 2:		ONE SYMBOL PLZ.
		CITY:			HOLTSVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11742

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000278352
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC [3577]
		IRS NUMBER:				112308681
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE SYMBOL PLAZA
		CITY:			HOLTSVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11742-1300
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5165632400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE SYMBOL PLAZA
		CITY:			HOLTSVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11742-1300
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-07</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000278352</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SBL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001221115</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GREENQUIST MARK T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE SYMBOL PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOLTSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11742</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>SVP &amp; Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18.40</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-07</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2005-01-07</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-01-06</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingS
ecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>425000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Ten percent (10%) of these options vest on 01/07/2005 and fifteen percent (15%) on each of the next 6 consecutive 6 month anniversary dates of that date.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Mark T. Greenquist</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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