Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)

[khemara_qc]

U.S. shipments of mobile handsets that support Java or BREW device middleware will grow from 62 million in 2004 to just over
Wireless Application Platforms: Java Versus BREW

06/15/2004

Java and BREW are the two leading platforms used to download and run applications on mobile handsets. Java 2 Micro Edition, or J2ME, is the lightweight variant of the Java platform that has been adapted for use on mobile devices. BREW is a Qualcomm platform designed specifically to support a marketplace for applications and application components downloaded to mobile handsets.



Key Findings of this Report include:

- Middleware Goes Mass Market.

U.S. shipments of mobile handsets that support Java or BREW device middleware will grow from 62 million in 2004 to just over 100 million or 90 percent of all handsets that ship, in 2009. These projections assume that variations of these platforms will remain preferred venues for secure download of lightweight applications.

- Java Will Retain a Numerical Advantage.

Current and expected future carrier and OEM support will insure that Java sustains its leadership position. U.S. sales of devices that support BREW will grow from 23 million in 2004 to 38 million in 2009 whereas annual sales of Java-capable handsets will grow from 39 million to 63 million in the same period.

- Device Numbers Don’t Add Up to Subscribers.

The supremacy of wireless Java in terms of global shipment volume is somewhat misleading. The installed base of devices that support Java includes a substantial number that are not provisioned to access download services or that are on devices that can only handle very rudimentary downloads.

- Openness Has a Downside.

The openness of Java, which yields a strong say to OEMs and carriers in shaping the future of the platform, is a primary advantage. However, the politicized standards setting process has slowed development and resulted in inconsistent implementations that has added a significant burden to the development process.

- BREW Defines Implementation Benchmark.

Client-side consistency, coupled with elegant support infrastructure from certification through to settlement, enabled BREW to become a more significant venue for paid content downloads in the U.S. market. With support of Verizon Wireless, the leading U.S. carrier, BREW implementations provide a benchmark for carriers supporting Java.

- Java is Catching Up.

A cluster of technology vendors and service providers are competing to provide the components to support a marketplace for Java applications. Broad market acceptance of specifications such as MIDP 2.0 will provide a viable lowest common denominator for application developers.

- BREW Roadmap Could Take Many Turns.

It is uncertain if BREW will evolve to become an operating system and/or a broader platform for applications provisioning and device management. Meanwhile, the roadmap for Java is better defined. Support for components, classes and a services gateway will make wireless Java a viable venue for enterprise computing in 2006.

- Opportunities Exist for Enterprise Alternatives.

Niche device middleware for consumer applications from vendors such as Synergenix and Infusio will fail to continued support from OEMs or developers. The future for companies like Appforge, which provides a platform for enterprise applications, is more promising.





For a complete index of this report click on http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/127849



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