Mobile handset manufacturer Sony Ericsson today announced a deal to acquire software company UIQ Technology AB, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Symbian Software Ltd.

 

Sony Ericsson (News - Alert) did not reveal financial details of the acquisition, but did specify that once the deal closes UIQ Technology will become a subsidiary while retaining its current management team.

 

The move seems a logical one, since Sony Ericsson currently licenses UIQ’s version of Symbian OS software for use on its P990, M600 and W950 phones.

 

“UIQ offers excellent technical flexibility enabling us to provide compelling features such as push email, internet browsing, end user personalization, and enhanced music applications,” said Sony Ericsson’s CTO, Mats Lindoff, in a statement.

 

Mats continued: “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.”

 

A Reuters report today pointed out a twist to the deal: the Symbian OS is licensed by other mobile device manufacturers, notably Nokia (News - Alert) (a minority Symbian shareholder), “which uses its own Series 60 software built on the Symbian operating system.”

 

Once the acquisition is complete, Reuters added, Nokia and Sony Ericsson both will own the software systems used with their phones. Competitors like Motorola (News - Alert), meanwhile, seem to prefer using Linux software, which Reuters points out is regarded as “more stable, cheaper and more flexible and innovative than proprietary systems owned by a single company.”

 

Symbian, an Associated Press report said, “is the most widely used operating system for advanced wireless phones in most markets outside the United States.”

 

Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications currently is celebrating its fifth anniversary as a joint venture between Japan-based Sony Corp. and Sweden-based Ericsson. Corporate headquarters for the combined company are located in London.