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UIQ Technology
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>UIQ Technology was established in April 1999 as Symbian AB, a wholly owned subsidiary of <a href="/facts/Symbian_Ltd./0wPSCjGl">Symbian Ltd.</a>, following their acquisition of Ericsson Mobile Applications Lab from <a href="/facts/Ericsson_Mobile_Communications/dJ9IgNrP">Ericsson Mobile Communications</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> Using technology gained from the acquisition they created the <a href="/facts/UIQ/wLtBoWBx">UIQ</a> platform which launched in 2002 and as the company changed its name to UIQ Technology. </p><p>In 2002 <a href="/facts/Sony_Ericsson/RX3xYCDy">Sony Ericsson</a> and <a href="/facts/Motorola/ztqczx68">Motorola</a> (both members of Symbian Ltd.) came close to a joint venture,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> but this was abandoned when Motorola chose to use a <a href="/facts/Linux/9FvCKSTq">Linux</a>-based platform in 2003. As a result, Sony Ericsson was the main licensee for UIQ.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p><p>On 7 November 2006, Sony Ericsson announced they had agreed (in principle) to buy UIQ Technology from Symbian Ltd. and run it as a separate subsidiary. The UIQ products would be "openly available, licensed on equal terms to all its licensees". The acquisition was completed in February 2007.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> Interestingly this meant Sony Ericsson got back this division that was originally created by them in 1998 (as Ericsson, before the joint venture with <a href="/facts/Sony/7x4tCtBd">Sony</a>).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>On 15 October 2007, Sony Ericsson and Motorola announced an agreement for Motorola to purchase a 50% interest in UI Holdings BV, the legal parent company of UIQ Technology. The two companies worked and invested jointly in the development of UIQ.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p> <h3>End of UIQ</h3> <p>With the establishment in 2008 of the <a href="/facts/Symbian_Foundation/GeGIhQEM">Symbian Foundation</a> led by <a href="/facts/Nokia/bCleFoF4">Nokia</a> (and which both Sony Ericsson and Motorola joined), UIQ's future was in doubt. <a href="/facts/S60_platform/NfBtjoKf">S60</a> was the UI choice of Symbian Foundation; UIQ would contribute its assets to the foundation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> Patrick Olsson of Sony Ericsson announced on 21 October 2008 at the Smartphone Show 2008 in London that UIQ didn't make the cut,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> it didn't attract the operator, manufacturer or consumer interest needed to stop it from failing.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p><p>Sony Ericsson funded the company for a few months to help management to restructure or find a buyer.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> On 5 January 2009, UIQ Technology filed for bankruptcy and ceased to exist.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="timeline">Timeline</h2> <p>1998 </p> <ul><li>Spring - <a href="/facts/Ericsson_Mobile_Communications/dJ9IgNrP">Ericsson Mobile Communications</a> in <a href="/facts/Lund/t67P9nm8">Lund</a> set up a development lab in Ronneby called Mobile Applications Lab. This was the precursor of UIQ Technology.</li> <li>June - Symbian Ltd. was established in London.</li></ul> <p>1999 </p> <ul><li>1 April - The company became part of Symbian Ltd, and the new company name was Symbian AB. Work was focused on Quartz 6.0, which was the pen-based communicator later known as UIQ.</li> <li>December - Number of permanent employees: 21</li></ul> <p>2000 </p> <ul><li>February - Quartz was publicly announced.</li> <li>May - Johan Sandberg was appointed General Manager.</li> <li>September - The first product release of Quartz 6.0 was made.</li> <li>December - Number of permanent employees: 78.</li></ul> <p>2001 </p> <ul><li>April - Quartz 6.1 was released.</li> <li>December - Number of permanent employees: 76.</li></ul> <p>2002 </p> <ul><li>February - The company name was changed to UIQ Technology AB and the product was renamed UIQ.</li> <li>March - UIQ 2.0 was released.</li> <li>December - Number of permanent employees: 85.</li> <li>December - The first UIQ phone, <a href="/facts/Sony_Ericsson_P800/4pPeE8GQ">Sony Ericsson P800</a>, was released.</li> <li>December - UIQ Selected Partner Program was launched for UIQ 2.1.</li></ul> <p>2003 </p> <ul><li>February - UIQ 2.1 was made public.</li> <li>October - The first UIQ 2.1 based phone, <a href="/facts/Sony_Ericsson_P900/xJ7e8eyI">Sony Ericsson P900</a>, reached the market. Motorola A920 was launched.</li> <li>December - Number of permanent employees: 102.</li></ul> <p>2004 </p> <ul><li>February - <a href="/facts/UIQ/wLtBoWBx">UIQ</a> 3 was announced at 3GSM.</li> <li>February - <a href="/facts/Motorola_A925/IIvGMKYH">Motorola A925</a>, <a href="/facts/Sony_Ericsson_P910/qsMTu0eB">Sony Ericsson P910</a>, BenQ P30, Motorola A1000 reached the market.</li> <li>December - Number of permanent employees: 110.</li> <li>December - UIQ Selected Partner Program was launched for UIQ 3.</li></ul> <p>2005 </p> <ul><li>September - First <a href="/facts/UIQ/wLtBoWBx">UIQ</a> 3 phone was announced - the <a href="/facts/Sony_Ericsson_P990/YLdA1jPQ">Sony Ericsson P990</a></li> <li>September - UIQ developer program launched</li></ul> <p>2006 </p> <ul><li>February - Second and third <a href="/facts/UIQ/wLtBoWBx">UIQ</a> 3 phones are announced - the <a href="/facts/Sony_Ericsson_M600/l18socrM">Sony Ericsson M600</a> and the <a href="/facts/Sony_Ericsson_W950/1n2jTHX0">Sony Ericsson W950</a> - as the platform moves into high volume, mid-tier devices</li> <li>February - UIQ developer program launches premium level membership and hosts WDF developer track at 3GSM</li> <li>November - Sony Ericsson announces that it has agreed to buy UIQ Technology</li></ul> <p>2007 </p> <ul><li>February - <a href="/facts/UIQ/wLtBoWBx">UIQ</a> 3.1 is released followed shortly by the SDK.</li> <li>February - The <a href="/facts/Motorola_RIZR_Z8/CM2jjx8x">Motorola RIZR Z8</a> is announced.</li> <li>February - Sony Ericsson finishes the acquisition of UIQ Technology from Symbian Ltd.</li> <li>May - The <a href="/facts/Sony_Ericsson_P1/zAecYGbF">Sony Ericsson P1i</a> is announced.</li> <li>October - <a href="/facts/Motorola/ztqczx68">Motorola</a> acquires 50% interest in UIQ Technology parent company UI Holdings BV.</li></ul> <p>2008 </p> <ul><li>March - <a href="/facts/UIQ/wLtBoWBx">UIQ</a> 3.3 was announced.</li></ul> <p>2009 </p> <ul><li>January - UIQ files for bankruptcy following the announcements of the open source <a href="/facts/Symbian_Foundation/GeGIhQEM">Symbian Foundation</a> earlier in 2008.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/UIQ/wLtBoWBx">UIQ</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_UIQ_3_Phones/wLtBoWBx">List of UIQ 3 Phones</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.uiq.com">Official website</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060328055120/http://developer.uiq.com/">UIQ developer portal & UIQ 3 SDK</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Evolving an Open Ecosystem: The Rise and Fall of the Symbian Platform". citeseerx.ist.psu.edu. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.721.9498. Retrieved 24 February 2021. <a href="http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.721.9498&rep=rep1&type=pdf" target="_blank">http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.721.9498&rep=rep1&type=pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Andrew Orlowski. "GUI wars return: Motorola, Sony Ericsson tie-up". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 24 February 2021. <a href="https://www.theregister.com/2002/08/02/gui_wars_return_motorola_sony/" target="_blank">https://www.theregister.com/2002/08/02/gui_wars_return_motorola_sony/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Andrew Orlowski. "Moto buys into UIQ". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 24 February 2021. <a href="https://www.theregister.com/2007/10/15/motorola_uiq_investment/" target="_blank">https://www.theregister.com/2007/10/15/motorola_uiq_investment/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"History". UIQ Technology. 2007. Archived from the original on 23 May 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2007. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070523072447/http://www.uiq.com/uiqhistory.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20070523072447/http://www.uiq.com/uiqhistory.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Meyer, David. "Sony Ericsson takes control of smartphone interface". ZDNet. Retrieved 24 February 2021. <a href="https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/networking/sony-ericsson-takes-control-of-smartphone-interface/" target="_blank">https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/networking/sony-ericsson-takes-control-of-smartphone-interface/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Motorola to buy half of UIQ from Sony Ericsson". IT PRO. Retrieved 24 February 2021. <a href="https://www.itpro.co.uk/130145/motorola-to-buy-half-of-uiq-from-sony-ericsson" target="_blank">https://www.itpro.co.uk/130145/motorola-to-buy-half-of-uiq-from-sony-ericsson</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Symbian Foundation continues to draw strong industry support" Archived 23 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Sony Ericsson press release 2008-09-09, retrieved 24 October 2008 <a href="http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/companyandpress/pressreleases/pressrelease/pressreleaseoverview/key.PressResource.Foundation_second_update_release_FINAL-20080909" target="_blank">http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/companyandpress/pressreleases/pressrelease/pressreleaseoverview/key.PressResource.Foundation_second_update_release_FINAL-20080909</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"on 2008-10-21, retrieved 2008-10-24". Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121111012325/http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/live/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20121111012325/http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/live/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>on 2008-10-22, retrieved 2008-10-24 Archived 25 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.motosmartphones.com/news/motorola-do/dont-have-a-strategy.htm" target="_blank">http://www.motosmartphones.com/news/motorola-do/dont-have-a-strategy.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"More than 200 jobless following UIQ's bankruptcy". www.thelocal.se. Retrieved 24 February 2021. <a href="https://www.thelocal.se/20090108/16792" target="_blank">https://www.thelocal.se/20090108/16792</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>The end of UIQ Archived 25 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Esato. Retrieved on 8 December 2013. <a href="http://www.esato.com/news/article.php/id=1811" target="_blank">http://www.esato.com/news/article.php/id=1811</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>The Register UK - 'files for bankruptcy' in Sweden <a href="https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/05/uiq_admin/" target="_blank">https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/05/uiq_admin/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>The Local - More than 200 jobless following UIQ's bankruptcy <a href="http://www.thelocal.se/16792/20090108/" target="_blank">http://www.thelocal.se/16792/20090108/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Electronista - UIQ declares bankruptcy <a href="http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/01/05/uiq.bankrupt/" target="_blank">http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/01/05/uiq.bankrupt/</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>