Digia, the Finnish software solutions and service company, has acquired Qt from Nokia. Qt is a cross-platform application and UI framework for developers using C++ or QML, a CSS & JavaScript like language. Digia already has a close relationship with Qt, it previously acquired the Qt Commercial licensing business from Nokia in March of 2011, while the Qt development stayed at Nokia. As part of the deal, 125 Qt employees located around Europe will transfer to Digia.
Digia says their objectives with the acquisition is to improve its postion in the Qt ecosystem by further strengthening R&D capabilities and expanding its reach to more platforms, including Android, iOS, and Windows 8. Among developers there seems to be general excitement that the development platform will be expanded to a wider selection of devices.
The company says it will work with ecosystem members to secure a successful release of Qt5 and is committed to continuing the Qt Project in order to maintain Qts availability under both open source and commercial licenses.
Digia says that more information will be available shortly on qt.digia.com, as well as qt-project.org, however the first link is a dead page at time of publication.
Digia is listed on OMX Helsinki, where the reaction has been somewhat flat.
