UIQ

UIQ (formerly known as User Interface Quartz) by UIQ Technology is a software platform based upon Symbian OS. Essentially this is a graphical user interface layer that provides additional components to the core OS, to enable the development of feature-rich mobile phones that are open to expanded capabilities through third-party applications.

Native applications can be written in C++ using the Symbian/UIQ SDK. All UIQ-based phones (2.x and 3.x) also support Java applications.

Version 2.x and 3.x are pen-based and used in the following 2.5G and 3G smartphones: Sony Ericsson P800/P900/P910/P990/M600/W950/P1/W960/G700/G900, BenQ P30/P31 and Arima U300/U308, Nokia 6708, Motorola A920/A925/A1000/M1000.

UIQ phones employ touch screens with a resolution of 208×320 pixels (UIQ 1.x & 2.x) and 240×320 (UIQ 3.x). Depending on the phone, the color depth is 12-bit (4096 colors), 16-bit (65536 colors), 18-bit (262144 colors), and 24-bit (16,777,216 colors) on some newer phones.

For developers the significant items are:
* Single SDK model - developers targeting core UIQ features can use the UIQ SDK to target any UIQ 3 device. Extensions targeting specific device features (such as WiFi, etc) are available from phone manufacturers websites.
* Increased tools support - developers can use whichever tools they are familiar with (DevStudio, Eclipse, Carbide, CodeWarrior, NetBeans). Many of these tools are beginning to support extensive RAD features for both C++ and Java developers. Visual Basic programmers can use NS Basic/Symbian OS.
* High volume, mid-range devices are now possible, to significantly increase the potential customer base.

UIQ Iterations since Symbian v9.1

UIQ 3.0 was the first Symbian v9.1 Operating System. One of the main tweaks that has been done with the UIQ version was the GUI which now supports both Touchscreen and Non-Touchscreen Navigation. User Interface is enhanced with SVG Tiny support which is responsible for some interface transitions on the Menus, Submenus etc.

UIQ 3.1 is the first revision from the UIQ 3 series which supports both Touchscreen and Non-Touchscreen navigation it also also supports one handed operation and a number of significant enhancements. This version is based on Symbian v9.2

UIQ 3.2 is an update of the v3.1 and which enhances Java API including the MSA profile being mandated as well as a richer messaging suite with MMS Postcard, IM Client OMA IMPS 1.2, push E-mail and support for sharing media for Web Browser. The new version still uses the v3.1 SDK, same goes for the OS version which is also based on Symbian v9.2

UIQ 3.3 comes as a major update from the UIQ 3.2 and is built on top of the Symbian v9.3. the new iteration integrates the Opera Mobile v9.5 alongside with widgets support handled by the Dash Board application. The new application is accessible with the widget button that will be incorporated on the following UIQ 3.3 phones. furthermore the new version had supported JSR 248 (MSA or 'M'obile 'S'ervices 'A'rchitecture) Fullset API from Java and at the same time broughts Unified Messaging Platform at the forefront. Menu UIs are furtherly refurbished and Transitions were longer than the past versions.

A new UIQ optimized for Touchscreen interface was under development, several screenshots were shown at the Smartphone show on October and is reported to make use for Touch Screen more efficient than the earlier versions. UIQ Fan base from different Mobile Phone Fan Sites refer this as the UIQ 4.

First Phones to utilize platform versions

*The first UIQ v2.0 based phone was the Sony Ericsson P800.
*The first phone to utilize UIQ 3 is the Sony Ericsson P990.
*The first phone with UIQ 3.1 is Motorola RIZR Z8.
*The first phone with UIQ 3.2 is Motorola RIZR Z10.

UIQ Acquisition

In February 2007, Sony Ericsson had completed the acquisition of the UIQ platform.

In October 2007, Motorola bought 50% of UIQ from Sony Ericsson.

List of UIQ 2.x Phones and its Version

Sony Ericsson
*Sony Ericsson P800 (UIQ 2.0)
*Sony Ericsson P900 (UIQ 2.1)
*Sony Ericsson P910 (UIQ 2.1)

Motorola
*Motorola A920 (UIQ 2.0)
*Motorola A925 (UIQ 2.0)
*Motorola A1000 (UIQ 2.1)
*Motorola M1000 (UIQ 2.1)

Benq
*Benq P30 (UIQ 2.0)
*Benq P31 (UIQ 2.1)

Nokia
*Nokia 6708 (UIQ 2.1)

Arima
*Arima U300 (UIQ 2.0)
*Arima U308 (UIQ 2.1)

List of UIQ 3.x Phones and its Version

The following is a list of the smartphones that have been announced/confirmed as running the newer UIQ 3.x platform.

PDA-style design (similar to a handheld computer)
*Sony Ericsson P1/Sony Ericsson P1i/P1c (UIQ 3.0)
*Sony Ericsson M600/Sony Ericsson M600i/M608 (UIQ 3.0)
*Sony Ericsson P990/Sony Ericsson P990i/P990c (UIQ 3.0)
*Sony Ericsson W950/Sony Ericsson W950i/W950c (UIQ 3.0)
*Sony Ericsson W960/Sony Ericsson W960i/W960c (UIQ 3.0) Hybrid PDA/Phone design (Normal phone with Touchscreen Display)

*Sony Ericsson G700 (UIQ 3.0)
*Sony Ericsson G900 (UIQ 3.0)

Slider design
*Motorola RIZR Z8/Motorola Nahpohos Z8 (UIQ 3.1)
*Motorola RIZR Z10 (UIQ 3.2)

ee also

*S60 platform, another Symbian-based platform.
*MOAP, Symbian-based platform utilized in NTT DoCoMo's 3G mobile phones.

External links

* [http://www.uiq.com/ UIQ Technology]
* [http://developer.uiq.com/ UIQ Developer Portal]
* [http://www.symbianone.com Symbian OS and UIQ Developer Portal]
* [http://www.symbianism.com/ My-Symbian - Symbian OS Community]
* [http://uiqblog.com UIQ Blog - A dedicated UIQ blog]
* [http://www.se-uiq.com/ SE-UIQ.com All about Sony Ericsson UIQ phone's (French site)]
* [http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/news/item/6985_UIQ_33_Announced.php UIQ 3.3 Launched - All About Symbian]