Trolltech has integrated its Qt cross-platform development framework with WebKit, the web browser technology used in Apple’s iPhone and millions of Nokia smartphones. The integration of Qt and WebKit will enable mobile operators and handset manufacturers to create a customer experience that enriches mobile phone applications with live web content.

Google Earth and iTunes are examples of such services currently available on the desktop. With Trolltech’s Qt WebKit Integration, these type of applications – along with services such as social networking, instant messaging and real-time financial updates – can also be delivered to mobile phones.

Trolltech expects the Qt WebKit Integration to provide a vital tool as industry players strive to create attractive, revenue-generating services to take a share of the lucrative mobile entertainment market.

The integration of Qt and WebKit will enable handset manufacturers and operators to build advanced user interfaces that incorporate real-time web content and services more smoothly and easily than previously possible. This will help create dynamic, interactive software that combines online and offline content, and transfers the user experience of the web to mobile phones. The Qt WebKit Integration allows device vendors and service providers to define their own browser environment, guaranteeing a consistent user experience across operating systems and devices.

Lars Knoll - one of the creators of the predecessor to WebKit and now Trolltech’s vice president of engineering - explains: “The Qt WebKit Integration helps developers to combine live web content with mobile and desktop applications. This erodes the boundaries between the desktop, mobile phones and the Web. It also enables graphics and Web designers to join developers in making user interfaces more advanced than ever – no matter which device or desktop application you are using.“

The popularity of WebKit within the open source and commercial development community has led to a continual improvement in the quality of the code. The rendering engine is compliant with the latest standards for HTML, XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, SVG and AJAX.

The Qt WebKit Integration enables developers to implement WebKit in a Qt environment, which means all painting of Web pages, network communication and XML handling are based on Qt. Qt developers can also display web pages and use the JavaScript scripting language to make their applications more dynamic and interactive. By integrating HTML web-design elements with Qt-based functionality, it is now possible to create cutting-edge user interfaces beyond what is feasible today.

With all these benefits available to handset manufactures and operators, the time to market for new appealing consumer services will dramatically improve.