Nokia is reported to have sold its open source cross-platform application framework Qt to the Finish software company Digia. While Nokia hasn't disclosed the financial details of the agreement they have stated that they sold Qt for a fraction of the $150 million they originally paid for the platform.Qt which is now considered one of Nokia’s non-core assets was expected to play a key role in the company’s transition from Symbian into future platforms like Meego and Meltemi. Qt would allow the near 400,000 loyal Nokia developers to easily transition their apps from Symbian and thus reach out to “the next billion”.
Qt would also have allowed an easy transition of apps to Android, selling Qt to Digia thus also iterates Nokia’s commitment to the Windows Phone platform.
Meanwhile Digia promises to make the best out of this deal and work on cementing QT’s position as the leading cross platform and UI development framework. The platform will eventually support iOS, Android and even Windows Phone.
We are glad that Nokia chose to keep the Qt technology within Finland by allowing a local company to continue the work on the platform which they started. We hope to continue to see good things come from Qt through Digia.
source – Digia