BREW News

BREW News is written to give developers program information, market insights, BREW features and technical briefs.

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BREW News - Volume 3, Number 8

> Wireless Subscribers Download More Than 50 Million BREW-Based Applications
> Qualcomm Boosts Presence of BREW System in Europe
> Developers - Free Mapping Data for LBS Applications Now Available
> E-mail on the Phone: Writing Great Software
> BREW Extensions Program
> BREW Welcomes New Partners

Wireless Subscribers Download More Than 50 Million BREW-Based Applications

Wireless subscribers are enjoying the compelling content being created for the BREW platform. To date, wireless subscribers have downloaded more than 50 million BREW-based applications since the commercial launch of BREW-based services less than two years ago. The achievement arrives at a time of unprecedented worldwide operator, device manufacturer, publisher and developer support for the BREW system. Most importantly, when consumers download applications, a publisher or developer's hard work pays off - literally, because money is made. That's why 50 million is a great number for the entire community of wireless publishers and developers bringing BREW-based content to operators and their subscribers in regions around the world.

"We commend the BREW team for the achievement of their latest milestone in downloads and look forward to continued joint success in furthering the market for wireless data services," said Larry Shapiro, executive vice president of business development and operations, Walt Disney Internet Group. "With the BREW system, we have been empowered to focus on what we do best, developing our strong brands and properties for new platforms. There are many opportunities for Disney in wireless information and entertainment, and we can pursue them while entrusting the distribution and other back-end billing and payment concerns to the BREW system."

"Qualcomm's efforts to establish the BREW system as the best solution in wireless are paying off with its rapid worldwide adoption," said Peggy Johnson, president of Qualcomm Internet Services. "This milestone signifies the success of the connections Qualcomm has forged throughout the value chain - with operators, device manufacturers, publishers and developers - to deliver demand-driven, BREW-based applications."

Qualcomm Boosts Presence of BREW System in Europe

During the past year, Qualcomm has taken several steps to increase support of the BREW system in Europe. Most recently, Qualcomm assigned a dedicated BREW team to the company's London office to support operator trials and launches of BREW-based services, in addition to providing increased assistance to developers located in Europe. Qualcomm has named Johan Lodenius as senior vice president of European business relations, Qualcomm Internet Services, to lead the European BREW team.

Joining Lodenius in London are several key employees with significant experience and accomplishments supporting the successful commercialization of BREW-based products and services around the world, including Jan Lezny, senior director of European business relations and operations; Vicki Mealer, director of product management; and Jim Callanan, director of engineering.

"We believe there is plenty of opportunity for the BREW system to have a positive impact on the value added services and content being offered to European wireless subscribers," said Lodenius. "Qualcomm is making a long term commitment to work closely with operators, developers and handset manufacturers in Europe with the goal of helping them realize the significant results already being experienced with the BREW solution in other regions around the world."

Developers - Free Mapping Data for LBS Applications Now Available

Qualcomm is pleased to announce the availability of free sample NAVTECH datasets to BREW developers building Location-Based Services (LBS) applications. BREW Developers can now get easy access to mapping data to design and build cutting-edge location-based applications that help make the most of the new wireless data market. By employing NAVTECH® Map Data in your application, you will be able to offer:

Precise location/geocoding
Map displays for a browser, mobile phone or GIS
Optimized route sequencing
Traffic-rules based routes and accurate driving directions
Dynamic route guidance
Highly accurate tracking for corporate assets, field personnel...

Use of NAVTECH map data is offered free of charge during your development process. Charges will apply when applications become commercialized. See NAVTECH for details.

All BREW developers can download a test version of the NAVTECH Maps covering the city of San Diego.

Authenticated BREW developers can have access to extended coverage areas.

E-mail on the Phone: Writing Great Software

Writing and selling e-mail programs for cell phones may not be easy, but this huge market has this big advantage: It's not overcrowded yet. Oh, and BREW makes the selling part a lot easier.

The following DevX article takes a look at the unique issues programmers face in writing code for cell phones, the programming tools Qualcomm makes available to developers, and how the BREW delivery system helps developers market their software and collect revenue from the users.

Today, e-mail access on handheld devices is appearing in a new, much more economical form - on
cellular phones, which with their increased functionality and low prices are becoming ubiquitous. Developers rightly see a significant opportunity to write software for this large, still-untapped market.

Not that it's easy writing for these devices. Constrained RAM, screens, and processing power are challenges to the programming arts, weaned as they have been in recent years on the limitless horizons of the PC. The many variations in platform hardware, system software, and screen dimensions make one nostalgic for the monotone horizons of the PC space. New tools must be mastered. And for those intending to sell their software creations, the cost and headaches associated with marketing, selling, and collecting revenues from one's software efforts introduce a whole new level of torture to the equation.

BREW Extensions Program

Qualcomm wants to remind developers about the BREW extensions program. The extensions program is designed for developers who wish to extend the functionality of BREW APIs. The program provides an environment in which developers can create extensions, make them available to other application developers and profit from their use.

This program is intended to provide an "open market" opportunity whereby any authenticated BREW developer would have unrestricted access to download extensions and incorporate them into any number of applications, without having to separately notify and license the technology from the extension developer. The extension developer determines whether they want to set a fixed price for their extension or a percentage of the wholesale price of the application using it. Extension developers receive payment for extension usage from Qualcomm in the same manner and time frame that the application developers receive payment.

Read more about the components of the extension program and the process of becoming an extension developer.

BREW Welcomes New Partners

Qualcomm would like to recognize some of the newest global publishers and developers supporting the BREW system. This month, Qualcomm extends a big welcome to the following:


Based in Finland, develops and publishes game content.	Based in Scotland, develops multimedia content, engine/browser and related technologies.	Based in U.S., focuses on content management technologies.

Based in Japan, publishes game and entertainment content including Space Invaders.	Based in Japan, develops game and entertainment content.	A subsidiary of a Japanese developer/publisher, publishes and distributes entertainment content including Final Fantasy® titles.