Qualcomm Revamping Brew Platform

Qualcomm said it will be revamping its Brew Mobile Platform to make it more attractive to handset makers, developers, and mobile operators.

The company is working with software partners like Obigo, Myriad, and Seven to retool Brew, which can power smartphones but is most often found in mid-tier handsets and feature phones. The revamping will include an improved browser, as well as integration of mobile social networking, e-mail, messaging, graphics engines, location-based services, and multimedia options. Brew had been capable of these services before, but only through applications layered on top.

The first handsets with the improved Brew software are slated to hit the market in early 2010, and Qualcomm's mobile platform could pave the way for a variety of mobile apps. Qualcomm is working to enable developers to write a program once and have it compatible with all Brew-based phones. Previously, content creators had to tailor their apps and programs for each individual handset.

"This effort includes optimization of target devices and pre-distribution of these products to device makers," said Jason Kenagy, VP of Qualcomm's CDMA technologies, in a statement. "Through this collaborative effort, Qualcomm and its software providers will help device makers achieve faster time-to-market and ease of development."

The move comes as Brew appears to be picking up some steam, as Sprint Nextel said it would be using the platform for a wide range of its mid-tier feature phones. Cox Communications will also be using the platform for its mobile devices when it launches its wireless services, and HTC is expected to develop a high-end Brew handset over the next couple months.

InformationWeek Analytics has published an independent analysis on application delivery. Download the report here (registration required).