UIQ starts layoff talks with over half of its staff

HELSINKI, June 24 (Reuters) - Software firm UIQ said on Tuesday it has started layoff talks with 200 staff from 375 total and will seek new business lines after its owners decided to merge its software with the Symbian platform.

Nokia (NOK1V.HE) said earlier on Tuesday it would buy out other shareholders of Symbian and other firms will put in their UIQ and MOAP software to create a new joint Symbian platform in 2009.

UIQ is owned by Sony Ericsson and Motorola (MOT.N). (Reporting by Tarmo Virki, Writing by Sakari Suoninen)