Neko
Supreme Overlord
Dec 13, 2003, 1:40 AM
Post #1 of 2
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February 17, 2003 - Nokia and Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications have agreed to further strengthen the momentum behind Symbian OS by aligning tools for the UIQ and Series 60 terminal software platforms and by creating an application certification program. This will substantially assist developers to develop, certify and deploy applications for Symbian OS phones, thereby accelerating availability of new applications for the new generation of multimedia mobile phones based on Symbian OS.
This collaboration between Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Symbian will make it possible for developers to use a unified tool set to develop Symbian OS applications for products using both UIQ and Series 60 terminal software platforms. Developers will also benefit from easier verification processes and faster time to market.
David Levin, CEO, Symbian Ltd said: "With Symbian OS phones shipping in markets worldwide, ever larger numbers of developers are taking advantage of the rapidly growing commercial opportunity in creating applications and services for Symbian OS phones. This new collaboration with Nokia and Sony Ericsson will drive even faster development and availability of innovative applications and services for Symbian OS phones."
UIQ, developed by UIQ Technology and used in Sony Ericsson's P800 Smartphone, provides a flexible, large screen user interface for small pen-based phones. The UIQ user interface platform is designed to enable easy to use access to enterprise applications, seamless messaging, powerful Internet and multimedia capabilities as well as simple synchronization with common desktop applications and SyncML servers via Infrared, Bluetooth(TM) and Serial Port connections.
Series 60 Platform is a software product for smart phones that Nokia licenses to other mobile-handset manufacturers. Manufacturers integrate the Series 60 Platform into their own phone designs running on top of the Symbian OS. The Series 60 Platform includes mobile browsing, multimedia messaging and content downloading, as well as a host of personal information management and telephony applications. In addition, the software platform includes a complete and modifiable user interface library.
Common Development on Common Tools
From Q2 2003, developers will benefit from being able to use a single tool set to target both Series 60 and UIQ devices. This will enable developers to address a larger population of Symbian OS phones, creating cost savings and improving time to market. Unified tool sets targeting both UIQ and Series 60 are currently under evaluation. Developers currently undertake native application development on Series 60 using Visual C++ tools. UIQ developers use Metrowerks' CodeWarrior tools.
Common Certification Program
Nokia and Sony Ericsson are also evaluating a common certification program for Symbian OS applications. This program is intended to enable application developers, network operators and phone customers to test, certify and sign applications for Symbian OS phones. Application developers will be able to assure their application's quality, helping to broaden the market for Symbian OS applications. In addition, network operators will be able to control application installation while users will be sure of the source, quality and integrity of Symbian OS applications.
Development and porting assistance
Nokia and Sony Ericsson will further assist application development for both UIQ and Series 60 by providing improved tools support, documentation and guidelines to developers who wish to port existing applications to other Symbian OS phones.
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