UIQ 3 tutorial series: part 6, routes to market

Having reached the sixth and final part of our UIQ 3 tutorial series, Simon Judge draws on his own experience in selling applications to consumers to outline the various routes to market for UIQ-based applications. In part 6 you'll find a summary of all the issues to be considered before making your application available for sale and an overview of the various sales channels open to you, including Sony Ericsson, network operators, software aggregators, online stores and your own web site.

Download Part 6: Routes to market>>

This UIQ 3 tutorial series is written by Simon Judge, a freelance mobile developer who develops for Symbian OS, Java™ ME and Windows™ Mobile. Simon Judge also maintains a mobile phone technology blog here>>

Simon Judge makes the assumption that to use part 6 you have read chapters 1 to 5, so here they are:

Part 1: the UIQ Platform, describes what UIQ is, where it fits in the Symbian OS ecosystem, why you should develop for it and the fundamentals of designing a new UIQ 3 application. Download>>

Part 2: UIQ SDK and tools setup, guides you through how to setup a UIQ Symbian OS development environment. Download>>

Part 3: Application integrity and security, explains why mobile applications need to be more robust than typical PC or server applications and describes Symbian OS platform security for Sony Ericsson's UIQ 3-based phones. Download>>

Part 4: Working with code, explains how to use existing tools and code examples to create an initial UI-based app for Sony Ericsson's UIQ 3-based phones. Download>>

Part 5: Releasing an application, describes how to customize the installation and sign your application using the Symbian Signed process. Download>>

The new Sony Ericsson P1 smartphone and W960 Walkman® phone are based on UIQ 3.0, and this tutorial series is a great way to get started with creating applications for it.

Sony Ericsson Developer World has also gathered all UIQ 3-related development resources in one convenient location: the new Productive Mobility UIQ 3 apps development web resource section www.sonyericsson.com/developer/productivemobility

Part 6: Routes to marketSimon Judge uses his own experience in selling applications to consumers to explore the ways in which you can distribute your first Symbian OS, UIQ-based application.

It is this experience that has allowed Simon to put together a list of issues to be considered before making your application available for consumers to purchase. The tutorial document goes into more detail, but here's a summary:

Symbian Signing: most sales channels are more interested in Symbian Signed applications as an assurance of quality

Demonstration version: end-users expect to be able to try a demo version and not having one may restrict sales

Downloads and installations: consumers will probably have problems with download and installation rather than the application itself, selling via an intermediary with technical support avoids this significant burden

Commission: sales channel commission structures vary by website and sales volumes
Market exposure: don't just consider commission, market exposure is equally important
Refunds: a clearly stated refund policy is a must

Credit card chargebacks: chargebacks are debits from your account due to credit card companies reversing a transaction and you need to be clear on your responsibilities
Software registration and preventing piracy: preventing the most determined hacker may inconvenience the less-technical end-user so using simple registration code schemes is advised

Upgrades: you need to manage the end-user's expectation of free or discounted upgrades

Support: don't underestimate the amount of technical support end-users expect
Selling price: check similar applications when setting your selling price


Sales channels

The next section of the tutorial outlines the various routes to market. Simon Judge summarizes the Sony Ericsson options, including the Sony Ericsson Application Shop website open to all Symbian Signed applications and invitation-only applications that are pre-loaded on CDs/Memory Sticks or embedded directly on phones. Other channels are then discussed in the context of Symbian OS-based applications and Simon Judge includes lists of useful web links for:

- Network operators
- Software aggregators
- Online stores
- Selling via our own website
- Freeware

More information:
Download UIQ 3 tutorial series:
Part 1: The UIQ Platform tutorial>>
Part 2: UIQ SDK and tools setup tutorial>>
Part 3: Application integrity and security>>
Part 4: Working with code>>
Part 5: Releasing an application>>
Part 6: Routes to market>>
Download other Sony Ericsson developer tutorials>>
Sony Ericsson P1: New UIQ 3-based smartphone unveiled>>
Sony Ericsson W960: New UIQ 3-based Walkman phone>>
Productive Mobility UIQ 3 application development web section>>
Checkout Simon Judge's technology blog>>