SAN DIEGO, United States-Industry players trumpeted a range of new applications and technologies for Qualcomm’s BREW download service in conjunction with the company’s developer conference here, but some attendees also raised concerns about elements of the BREW system.
Although Qualcomm released worldwide usage numbers for its BREW application download service-pegging the total number of BREW downloads at 28 million and the total number of BREW handsets at 8 million-some at the conference said the efforts fell short. Qualcomm would not say how many of the 28 million downloads were free, leaving attendees to guess at potential revenues. The company also declined to provide details on handset sales, including how many have been sold in the United States.
However, the numbers do provide at least a look into the progress of the BREW system. The progress of similar technologies, including Sun Microsystems’s Java, is less clear.
Aside from usage statistics, BREW developers offered a range of news announcements. For example:
- Sorrent announced applications for China Unicom centered on basketball star Yao Ming.
- DotPhoto released upgrades to its picture messaging software to include local photo storage, personalized photo wallpaper and phone screensavers.
- ArcSoft also released a photo messaging product dubbed PhotoBase Browser Edition for the BREW system.
- Namco America announced plans to develop Pac-Man and other popular arcade games for the BREW system.
- Sharp Electronics launched a version of its SharpMotionART graphics technology for the platform.
- Walt Disney Internet Group announced plans to expand its range of BREW applications.
- Rocket Mobile released a picture messaging product the company said works alongside the multimedia messaging services (MMS) standard.
- Esmertec demonstrated technology to support Java version 2.0 running on the BREW platform.
- And publishing company Jamdat Mobile said it will release three new games for the service.
“We’re seeing a very rapid take-up by a variety of operators around the world,” said Qualcomm’s leader Irwin Jacobs.
“I think we’re on the cusp of a great opportunity here,” said Larry Shapiro, executive vide president of business development and operations for Walt Disney Internet Group.