Symbian announces UIQ user interface for Symbian OS

UIQ enables handset manufactures to easily develop pen-based mobile phones based on Symbian OS v7.0

3GSM, Cannes - February 20, 2002 - Symbian today announces a further application of the Symbian OS to be called UIQ. UIQ provides a user interface for small pen-based phones being implemented by a number of handset manufacturers.

"With the UIQ application user interface, Symbian has provided its licensees with a flexible user interface that will enable them to market a variety of diversified phones using a common technology base," said Johan Sandberg, General Manager Symbian AB. "UIQ brings with it a richer multimedia environment and more intuitive interactivity that will change the way people look at their personal communication devices."

UIQ is based upon Symbian OS v.7.0 and was designed for peer-to-peer messaging, including Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). MMS offers the ability to send rich messaging objects such as text, pictures and audio to both mobile users with MMS enabled devices and email users. Other applications and services include unified contacts, an intuitive agenda, high-resolution web page delivery and synchronisation over the air using the open SyncML standard.

"Sony Ericsson's goal is to develop mobile multimedia products that are easy to use, and fun to use", said Anil Raj, Corporate Executive Vice President of Sony Ericsson. "The wide range of applications and features available on this new generation of products make the user interface even more important and the new UIQ will be important for the user experience", said Mr Raj.

Key features of UIQ are:

• seamless messaging (including: MMS, EMS, SMS, email and fax over GSM, GPRS, EDGE, HSCSD, CDMA, cdma2000)
• integrated contacts (allows users to make a voice call or create an MMS, SMS or fax message with one tap on the recipient's Contacts entry; easily access web or WAP pages associated with contacts; send contacts as vCards over MMS, SMS, Email, fax, Infrared or Bluetooth^® wireless technology)
• intuitive agenda (enables easy entry and viewing of complex calendaring; also supports vCalendar over MMS, SMS, email, fax, infrared and Bluetooth^® wireless technology)
• powerful Internet capabilities (including support for: HTML 4.01; HTTP 1.1; HTTPS support over SSL 3.0 and TLS 1.0; CSS 1 and CSS 2; XML 1.0 and XHTML 1.0; Java script 1.3; 128-bit encryption and Java applets)
• simple synchronisation via Infrared, Bluetooth^® wireless technology and Serial Port with common desktop applications and SyncML servers
  

At 3GSM, Symbian also announced Symbian OS v7.0 enabling 2.5G and 3G mobile phones. Symbian will be releasing software developer kits based on UIQ to third party developers at its annual Symbian Developer Expo, which is being held in London on the 23-24 April 2002. More information about the Expo together with registration information can be found at Symbian DevExpo 2002

About Symbian

Symbian is a software licensing company, owned by wireless industry leaders, that is the trusted supplier of the advanced, open, standard operating system for data-enabled mobile phones. Symbian's mission is to create a mass-market for Symbian OS mobile phones by enabling our licensees to build winning products. Symbian's website can be found at Symbian

Symbian's stand at 3GSM is in Hall 2, E28, Palais des Congres, Cannes, France

The latest Symbian OS technology, phones, services and applications will also be demonstrated at Symbian's forthcoming Developer Expo to be held in London on 23/24 April 2002. More information about this annual event which features keynotes, conferences, workshops and exhibitions can be found at Symbian DevExpo 2002