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Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Moderated Thread - please read rules before posting -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jackmore who wrote (27289)	9/30/2002 8:08:59 AM
From: jackmore	Respond to of 197214

U.S. Cellular Hosts BREW Taste Test For Teens & Road Warriors By Kristy Bassuener September 27, 2002 news@2 direct Qualcomm's BREW platform for mobile phone applications could have another customer soon, as U.S. Cellular says it has begun testing the system for use on its networks. Beginning its testing in Knoxville, Tenn., selected trial users will be able to access programs including games and productivity tools, the carrier says. The tests will continue through January, and U.S. Cellular says the testing will help it hone eventual commerical wireless data offerings. Market segments chosen for the trial run of BREW include two youth segments, depending on age, as well as ''local mobile professionals,'' says John Cregier, the director of data strategy and service at U.S. Cellular. About 300 participants will start in the test run, with that number likely swelling up to 500 over the course of the program, he says. Although the carrier -- the nation's eighth largest with 3.9 million customers -- is testing BREW, ''we have no firm commitment,'' Creiger says. ''We are optimistic that we will launch with BREW.'' However, the carrier is not looking exclusively at BREW, as Sun Microsystems' Java platform also has a draw. ''There are two options for us,'' Creiger says. ''If we go down the BREW path, we believe at some point not too far down the road BREW will allow [Sun's] Java 2 Micro Edition to run on top of BREW, which means we can deploy Java applications with in the BREW environment and get the best of both worlds. The other option is to deploy Java side by side with BREW. We're open to either scenario, and will keep our eye on the market and what customers want.'' BREW enables wireless phone users to access, choose and download applications such as games, ringtones or business programs. Currently, Verizon Wireless offers BREW-enabled downloads, and regional carrier Alltel offers the service in a handful of its markets. BREW regularly is pitted against Sun Microsystems' Java 2 Micro Edition technology, which also enables over-the-air downloads. Among carriers using Java are Nextel Communications, Sprint PCS and SouthernLINC. However, some operators point out that the two are not mutually exclusive. In an earlier Wireless Week interview, Alltel officials said the company also was looking into Java. Despite regular comparisons, Creiger says he sees the BREW and Java technologies differently. ''I don't see BREW and Java as being apples-to-apples. BREW includes things like a business model for us to have a relationship with the content providers and Qualcomm and there is a structure around revenue sharing and billing. That's not automatic with J2ME.'' wirelessweek.com