O2 has released its first handset to use Qualcomm’s uiOne interface solution. The handset – known as Ice – is a 3G monobloc design with a white casing and 1.3 megapixel camera. uiOne enables users to customise the device with visual elements such as wallpapers and menu themes, shortcuts to their favourite mobile services and receive ‘pushed’ promotions for new content direct to their home-screen.
The Qualcomm platform has been built using technology acquired when the US company purchased Trigenix, a British mobile software developer. Cambridge-based Trigenix was an early pioneer of handset personalisation, recording customer wins with numerous European operators. After its purchase by Qualcomm, the company appeared to lose traction as the platform was re-engineered to integrate with uiOne.
uiOne has recently been chosen by Alltel, Telecom New Zealand and now O2. The British operator is planning a range of devices using the technology. The Ice handset is manufactured by Pantech.
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This phone is the O2 'Ice' made by Curitel in Korea, running BREW 3.1.4. and based on an MSM chipset.
Note that O2 is NOT going to use the uiOne delivery system, so there are no updates pushed to the handset - only the user can personalise the skin.
There are several rumours as to how O2 selected uiOne (or selected a BREW handset) but I 'd rather not speculate.
Andreas