-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H9nv2kI6vJwlXoU0oFfqpGr9+yWhc76X9PMkxeeIbzE1MSZHHo7OquuCiLRSUnjm
 2VXTDj9ZVBiXngm0JI2Rxw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000278352-05-000109.txt : 20051020
<SEC-HEADER>0000278352-05-000109.hdr.sgml : 20051020
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051020115603
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000278352-05-000109
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051020
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051020

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:			CHRENC ROBERT J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001273610

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09802
		FILM NUMBER:		051146695

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES INC
		STREET 2:		ONE SYMBOL PLAZA
		CITY:			HOLTSVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11768
</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>2005-10-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001273610</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHRENC ROBERT J</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>87500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Award of restricted stock pursuant to the 2004 Equity Incentive Award Plan as compensation for service on the Executive Committee of the Issuer's Board of Directors, as previously disclosed in Item 1.01 of the Issuer's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 26, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Peter M. Lieb, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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