-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O5iwpxKaW4Mjbvr7JkWqWL5FsCIlWGmGQAETUhGjd/eaC+MfwUJW8RjoRo1YnErB
 RsSa35Z0Iuer79ZbutOYIA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000278352-05-000006.txt : 20050216
<SEC-HEADER>0000278352-05-000006.hdr.sgml : 20050216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050216150002
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000278352-05-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050216
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050216

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:		631-738-2400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE SYMBOL PLAZA
		CITY:			HOLTSVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11742-1300

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEMAYO CAROLE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185770

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09802
		FILM NUMBER:		05620600

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES INC
		STREET 2:		ONE SYMBOL PLAZA
		CITY:			HOLTSVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11742
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000278352</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SBL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185770</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEMAYO CAROLE</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, Human Resources</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2850</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19066</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.05</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2850</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-08-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2850</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8550</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Ten percent (10%) of these options vested on 8/12/03 and fifteen percent (15%) have vested or will vest on the following 6 consecutive 6-month anniversary dates of that date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/  Carole DeMayo</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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