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Friday, May 06, 2005 2:33:35 PM
Friday May 6, 1:37 pm ET
By Dave Mock
http://biz.yahoo.com/fool/050506/111540106813.html?.v=1
In the wireless industry, everyone talks about the quest for the "killer app" -- the next big thing that mobile users will repeatedly pay top dollar to acquire. Ringtones and SMS messaging have come close to this holy grail in the past. Both services have enjoyed widespread growth and greater profits compared to other basic services.
For its part, Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM - News) is doing all it can to help the industry find the next killer app. It's developed a technology called BREW, which is essentially a thin operating system for your cell phone. BREW allows users to download games or other applications directly to their phone over the air and pay for them on their regular phone bill. If you have Verizon's (NYSE: VZ - News) Get It Now service and have downloaded Frogger or Sports Illustrated swimsuit wallpaper to your phone, you know BREW.
But since ring tones and screensavers hit the mainstream, everyone's looking for something new to set them apart from the nearly 2 billion other wireless-device users around the world. Taking a cue from the past success of changeable phone faceplates, Qualcomm is now integrating new features into BREW that allow users to completely customize the look and feel of their mobile device. Called uiOne, the software solution allows developers to create fully customized graphical user interfaces (also known as GUIs) for mobile phones and sell them directly through carriers.
Since launching uiOne this February, Qualcomm has been busy demonstrating the capabilities of the new technology and providing developers with tool sets and design guides to get products on the market quickly. Yesterday, Qualcomm announced its first carrier-support agreement with Alltel (NYSE: AT - News) providing the uiOne system to Alltel's more than 8 million wireless customers.
Just as Windows transformed interaction with personal computer screens into a more graphical, feature-rich experience, so Qualcomm hopes to enhance the wireless phone interface experience. Imagine custom graphics, menus, and navigation styled around themes or brands, replacing the stale, cursor-driven interface on phones. Wireless phones are all about personalization, so I find it hard to see how this new user interface platform can go wrong.
Killer app? Maybe not. But I'd bet that once millions of users get a taste of this level of phone style, they'll never go back to plain old wallpaper.
Recent QCOM News
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/09/2024 08:05:49 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/09/2024 08:05:43 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/09/2024 08:05:27 PM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/08/2024 09:01:47 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/05/2024 09:03:28 PM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/02/2024 08:01:38 PM
- Qualcomm Gewinnmitteilung auf der Investor Relations Website des Unternehmens verfügbar • Business Wire • 07/31/2024 10:50:00 PM
- Publication des résultats de Qualcomm disponible sur le site web de la société consacré aux relations avec les investisseurs • Business Wire • 07/31/2024 10:50:00 PM
- Form 10-Q - Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/31/2024 08:02:08 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/31/2024 08:01:12 PM
- Qualcomm Earnings Release Available on Company’s Investor Relations Website • Business Wire • 07/31/2024 08:00:00 PM
- US Index Futures Up Ahead of Fed Decision; Oil Prices Surge Amid Middle East Tensions • IH Market News • 07/31/2024 10:01:30 AM
- AMD Shares Surge 9% on Earnings Beat; Match Group Rises 10%, Pinterest & Lemonade Drop 13%, and More Earnings Updates • IH Market News • 07/31/2024 09:59:10 AM
- Qualcomm gibt Datum der Ergebnismeldung für das dritte Quartal 2024 und der Konferenzschaltung bekannt • Business Wire • 07/19/2024 08:32:00 PM
- Qualcomm annonce qu’elle va publier prochainement ses résultats pour le troisième trimestre de l’exercice 2024 et qu’elle tiendra une conférence téléphonique • Business Wire • 07/19/2024 04:22:00 PM
- Qualcomm Schedules Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call • Business Wire • 07/19/2024 01:00:00 PM
- Qualcomm gibt Quartalsbardividende bekannt • Business Wire • 07/17/2024 06:43:00 PM
- Qualcomm annonce le versement du dividende en espèces trimestriel • Business Wire • 07/17/2024 06:43:00 PM
- Qualcomm Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend • Business Wire • 07/17/2024 01:00:00 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/08/2024 09:39:01 PM
- U.S. Index Futures Mixed Following Tech Sell-Off, WTI and Brent Crude Dip Slightly • IH Market News • 06/25/2024 10:37:15 AM
- Trump Media Resells Stocks and Warrants; KB Home Exceeds Q2 Expectations, and More News • IH Market News • 06/20/2024 10:55:11 AM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/04/2024 08:07:43 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/04/2024 08:07:25 PM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/03/2024 09:27:46 PM
Maybacks Global Entertainment and ZEASN Technology Private Ltd. Sign Global Licensing Agreement • AHRO • Aug 8, 2024 7:00 AM
SANUWAVE Will Host a Conference Call on August 13, 2024 at 8:30 AM (ET) to Present Q2 Financial Results • SNWV • Aug 8, 2024 6:59 AM
Kona Gold Beverage Inc. Signs Letter of Intent with Bemax, Inc. to Sell Kona Gold, LLC • BMXC • Aug 7, 2024 10:00 AM
Btab Ecommerce Group, Inc. Launches Investor Connect AI Chatbot for Enhanced Investor Engagement and Lead Generation • BBTT • Aug 7, 2024 9:00 AM
Hydromer, Inc. Announces Preliminary Unaudited Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Update • HYDI • Aug 7, 2024 8:52 AM
North Bay Resources Announces Mt. Vernon Gold Mine Startup, Sierra County, California • NBRI • Aug 5, 2024 9:00 AM