In an internal blog-based announcement, cross-platform GUI and application frameworks player Qt has publicized the availability of the Qt SDK 1.1 release candidate. The release builds on a beta that was released just last month and has now been tuned for real-world developer usage patterns. As such, the final Qt SDK will allow programmers to submit their Qt 4.7 based applications to the Nokia-branded Ovi Internet services store.

In the wake of some corporate realignment moves, industry analysts and commentators have voiced concerns over the future of Qt. Nokia has selected Microsoft Windows Phone as its smartphone operating system of choice -- and a new commercial licensing agreement has also been brought in, which sees Finnish company Digia arguably bolstering Qt's commercial standing. Both developments seem to have left the Oslo, Norway-headquartered company unphased, and the platform now appears to be progressing with confident steps.

Qt says that the most important updates in the release candidate as compared to the beta are:

• Qt 4.7.3 is included for desktop and Symbian
• There is an update to Qt Mobility 1.1.2
• Qt Assistant has added as separate package (due to developer request)
• Installer can use system proxy on Linux
• Notification API moved from experimental to "Additional APIs"
• Several fixes for the Qt Simulator
• Several fixes for the installation/updating workflow

For developers keen to get the complete picture, Qt highlights the following information on the Forum Nokia website, which states that, "There is also an important change in the proposed implementation of Qt support on Symbian devices you should be aware of. Qt 4.7 is NO LONGER supported on S60 3rd Edition devices. For these devices your applications can use Qt 4.6.3 and Qt Mobility 1.1.2. This change has been implemented following your feedback from the beta testing. Given that touch devices are driving the demand for applications in Ovi Store, it was decided that the most benefit will come from focusing effort on ensuring Qt Quick is the best it can be on touch devices."

In the meantime, Qt says it welcomes developer contact via its bugtracker at http://bugreports.qt.nokia.com if anyone encounters problems or wants to share suggestions and ideas.