UIQ Technology today released the first public version of the Software Development Kit (SDK) for UIQ 3, its latest version of the software platform, based on Symbian OS. At the same time, Sony Ericsson today announced its latest contribution to the smartphone evolution, the Sony Ericsson P990, which will be the first UIQ 3 based mobile phone coming to market.

The recently launched UIQ 3 platform is an open software platform, based on Symbian OS, allowing developers to potentially target all UIQ 3 based phones from different manufacturers, using one single codeline. Applications will automatically receive the look and feel of the device they run on without the need for the developer to write extra code for it. Updates and bug fixes will be identical for all target platforms, and only one code update is needed to propagate it to all UIQ 3 based handsets.

Developers will benefit from shorter time-to-market since code written for UIQ 3 will be identical through all handsets, unless device specific features have been used.

Manufacturer specific extensions and application programming interfaces (API's) can be added to UIQ 3, allowing developers to take advantage of special features, to optimize their applications for specific phones in order to improve interaction and to use the full potential of the phone.

The Sony Ericsson P990 is the first smartphone to utilize the new UIQ 3 platform. Built on Symbian OS v9.1, the P990 is based on the same proven concept and recognizable form factor as previous Sony Ericsson smartphones, allowing developers to create powerful, touch screen-based applications in C++, or in Java for both flip open and flip closed modes. UIQ 3 is a flexible software platform that provides a unique opportunity for code-reuse in application development.