Sony Ericsson Developer World is energizing UIQ 3 business and productivity application development through a new web section and RSS feed. The market for productive mobility applications based on the UIQ 3 software platform is growing fast with an increasing number of people using a Sony Ericsson UIQ 3-based phone as their main tool for personal and enterprise productivity. Sony Ericsson Developer World gives you a head start in this market by gathering all UIQ 3-related development resources in one convenient location. And you'll also find a gallery of commercially available UIQ 3 applications from our partners.

Why develop for Sony Ericsson's UIQ-3 based phones?

Here are five reasons:
1. Expanding market share
2. Compatibility reducing complexity
3. Compatibility reducing development costs
4. Dedicated developer tools and support
5. Improved route to market for UIQ 3 apps

Expanding market share
Building on its smartphone heritage has proven to be a strategic advantage for Sony Ericsson and an important component also for its vision for the future. For example, the UIQ 2.1-based P910 smartphone with its touch screen, handwriting recognition, imaging and best-selling business applications, won "Smartphone of the year 2004" (awarded by Mobil Magazine).

This is the foundation on which 2006's three UIQ 3-based phones are built. The P990 smartphone, M600 messaging device and W950 Walkman phone are expanding the reach of UIQ-based phones into broader market segments, reaching new types of consumers than the traditional business user. Whereas previously only one Sony Ericsson smartphone was available at one time, from the fall of 2006 onwards, the P990, M600 and W950 are simultaneously available. And each phone is positioned in a different market sector:

• The P990 smartphone builds on Sony Ericsson's successful smartphone track record with the P800, P900 and P910 and is based on the same proven concept and form factor. Application sales trends show that Sony Ericsson P-series smartphone end-users are the most-likely Symbian OS consumer group to purchase software to add to their phones.
• The M600 messaging device offers end-users true e-mail, browsing and messaging mobility, recognizing the strong market demand for mid-range, mass-market phones with enhanced messaging capabilities.
• The W950 Walkman is the first Symbian OS-based phone in the Sony Ericsson Walkman range, enabling a wider market group to discover the potential of an open OS for entertainment-based applications in addition to productivity-based apps.

Read about the other four reasons here>>

New developer web section for UIQ 3-based Productive Mobility apps

With office solutions, push e-mail, location-based services and more advanced web services becoming increasingly popular, it's important for developers to stay ahead. The industry trend toward convergence has resulted in telecom operators looking to create value-added services that combine voice, video and data services over fixed and mobile networks.  

Sony Ericsson has focused its efforts on removing the barriers to enter this highly lucrative market by enabling developers to use existing APIs on today's phones to design not just client-specific applications but also advanced server-based Web 2.0 solutions, without worrying about interoperability between different platforms, networks or service models.   Web Services have the power to offer vast, revenue-generating opportunities to the mobile industry by giving mobile users access to services like search engines, online auctions, book stores and gift shops as well as online payment services. Web Services for the UIQ 3 software platform also make it easier to design sophisticated enterprise applications such as real-time mobile inventory systems or online banking services. Download Web services with UIQ 3 and gSOAP getting started tutorial here>> In Sony Ericsson Developer World's new web section you'll find the latest UIQ 3-related docs, tools, tutorials, phones specifications, code samples and news articles. Porting from UIQ 2.1 and Series 60 is explained with a special interest paper and a sub-section in the Developer World Wiki. Technical support is available through the Developer World discussion forums, Knowledge Base FAQ database and Wiki community, and dedicated e-mail support is available for purchase. Links to Symbian Signing and Developer Certificates (DevCert) advice are also provided.

As Sony Ericsson's UIQ 3-based phones also support Java ME CLDC and CDC, these Developers' Guidelines documents are available for download.

Check out the Productive Mobility web section>>

UIQ 3 app sales trends
There are currently over 150 UIQ 3- and Java ME-based applications available for download from the Sony Ericsson Application Shop, all Symbian Signed and Java Verified so that consumers can safely download and install them knowing that they have been tested by an independent test house according to industry-agreed testing and certification criteria.

Sony Ericsson Application Shop UIQ 3 sales increased significantly from August onwards indicating a continued positive download trend. The average purchase order in the Sony Ericsson Application Shop currently amounts to 42.70 USD. The new UIQ 3 phones currently represent 85% of the total UIQ application sales. More information on UIQ 3 application market uptake here>>

More information:

• Productive Mobility UIQ 3 application development web section>>
• Five reasons to develop for Sony Ericsson UIQ 3-based phones>>
• Sony Ericsson releases complete package for UIQ 3 based Web Services (press release)>>
• Subscribe to RSS feed for Productive Mobility UIQ 3 apps>>
• UIQ 3 application gallery>>
• Reporting on UIQ 3 application market uptake>>

* Try and Buy applications have some limitations. Some software and user guides may not be localized for all markets. Similarly some products may only be supported in certain languages or service coverage may be limited. Some products may be unavailable in certain markets or certain applications unavailable at first launch date but may be offered with the next firmware maintenance release. The minimum requirement in order to have an application distributed globally by Sony Ericsson is to support at least the EFIGS (English, French, Italian, German and Spanish) languages and traditional Chinese.