The BenQ P30 is the first phone using UIQ by a company outside Symbian's initial investors. BenQ are also probably going to be the first far eastern manufacturer to release a Symbian OS phone using UIQ. We recently spoke to BenQ to find out how they will be positioning the P30 and what developer support they are planning.

BenQ characterize the P30 as a smartphone designed for professional business users. The choice of UIQ as the interface for the P30 was influenced by UIQ's flexibility that has allowed BenQ to easily customize the interface coupled with the fact that it delivers a rich application set and has a user-friendly interface. The bigger display and touch screen also perfectly matched the combination of PDA and phone BenQ wanted to produce.

Since 3 made the decision to lock the Motorola A920, concerns have existed amongst the Symbian developer community regarding how many phone will be locked down in the future. BenQ however clearly view one of the strengths of Symbian OS and UIQ as the fact that it is an open platform and the P30 will be open to allow users to download and install applications designed for UIQ. Indeed BenQ realize the importance of application software on a phone like this and are working with a number of 3rd party developers to design new applications specifically for the P30.

The P30 also hold promise for developers for other reasons. BenQ are planning a developer web site and the release of a P30 specific SDK. The P30 is based on the standard UIQ SDK, however BenQ have customized certain APIs specifically for the P30. Unfortunately they were not forthcoming on the functionality of these APIs. If you want to amuse yourself speculating on what these APIs could be you should know that BenQ have clearly stated that they are most interested in seeing more business related applications being created for P30.

There has also been some speculation on how BenQ will market the P30, as an own brand product or as an ODM products carrying Operator branding. BenQ have confirmed that the P30 will be sold under the BenQ brand but they did not dismiss the suggestion that some product could be sold directly via Operators as co-branded phones. Given that BenQ are already working with operators to build devices to their specifications, operator co-branded phones based round the P30 are possible.

The BenQ P30 is targeted for release during Q1, 2004 and will be available worldwide.

Web: www.benq.com