At the 3GSM, Sony Ericsson held a media and analyst briefing to issue an open invitation to phone vendors to become shareholders in UIQ Technology AB following their acquisition of the Swedish software company from Symbian Ltd on February 2. UIQ Technology AB licenses the UIQ user interface framework and application suite to phone vendors. At the briefing Sony Ericsson President Miles Flint said that UIQ will remain an independent company and that phone vendors are invited to license UIQ as well as become shareholders in the company.
Sony Ericsson is already a licensee of UIQ and has shipped a number of phones based on Symbian OS and UIQ such as the P990 business-centric smartphone and the high-end Walkman W950 with 4GB of onboard storage.
Sony Ericsson is in discussions with handset vendors regarding expanding the future ownership of UIQ Technology but wanted to use the opportunity of 3GSM in Barcelona to issue an open invitation to them. Sony Ericsson expects to make further announcements about new shareholders and licensees in the coming months.