Sony Ericsson Shopping For UIQ

Word has it that Sony Ericsson (who I’m enjoying a lot of late with my new K800) are out to snap up symbian software developer UIQ.

Via iTWire

UIQ offers excellent technical flexibility enabling us to provide compelling features such as push email, Internet browsing, end user personalisation and enhanced music applications” said Mats Lindoff, chief technology officer at Sony Ericsson. “By acquiring UIQ Technology we will further invest and exploit the full potential of UIQ on Symbian OS for phone vendors, mobile operators, developers and consumers.”

The move would certainly benefit UIQ who would certainly gain a massive boost in the ability to compete in the software market for mobiles. UIQ itself is owned by Symbian and under the terms of the sale (with no financial details available at this time) UIQ will operate as a seperate subsidy of Sony Ericsson and, according to Business Week, “its products will be openly available, licensed on equal terms to all its licensees”. Sony Ericsson is already a licensee of UIQ.

The deal, while having been announced, isn’t expected to close until Spring next year.