LongCuts is a UIQ 3 utility which binds launching of applications to predefined hotkeys.
Start LongCuts. You will be presented with a list of applications. Scroll to the app of your choice. With the selection bar over the app name, press and hold your chosen hotkey on the qwerty keypad for a second or two. When binding is complete the application name will dim and the defined key will appear next to it. With LongCuts running in the background and the phone in Standby mode, pressing the defined hotkey at any time will invoke the desired app.