Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

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

To: ggamer who wrote (92709)	6/23/2010 4:52:29 PM
From: FJB	Respond to of 197227

If you were to start programming an application today, you would have to look at iOS, Android and RIMM before considering BREW in that order. Nokia confuses me...

To: ggamer who wrote (92709)	6/23/2010 5:36:10 PM
From: planetsurf	13 Recommendations Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 197227

Can someone in a very high level and not too technical term explain the following: I'll take a crack at it from a quasi-developers POV. (Not making a case for QCOM ROI with Brew.) 1) What are the major differences/similarities between Android and Brew Android is a real (Linux) OS on a phone. Apps can be built to run in this environment fairly easily (same for IPhone). Like a laptop computer, the OS decides what connection (wifi vs cell) to use, the app just runs on top, utilizing the connection or not. BREW is an environment that allows for apps to run on a "less smart/powerful" phone. An individual might have a few options to customize their "desktop" (wallpaper) but only what is allowed by the phone/carrier. Mostly there are just individual apps that get placed in a folder within the "tools" of your phone. Android is much more powerful and much more flexible BUT requires a much more powerful (expensive) phone and screen. Brew is also very carrier centric. I believe most carriers choose what apps are available (certainly Verizon does). I believe Android is carrier agnostic -- you can get the same apps (mostly) on at&t or Verizon. The old vertical vs horizontal model argument. 2) Can they co-exist Of course. Android to me is plenty cool and powerful but the phones more $$. Brew is the low-end option. IPhone/best Androids at the high end (Win Mob 7?) --- BBerry/low-end Androids at the higher mid end -- good Brew phone/Palm/Kin type at low mid end -- basic flip/slide phone with Brew at low end. 3) The explosive growth of android - is good or bad for Brew Except for Android and IPhone sucking all the air out of the room for developers (and that's pretty big), I'd say it's a wash. Simple pre-paid phones are still going strong (surprisingly) in the first-world markets, carriers can use BREW apps (or a package of apps) to differentiate cheap phones and get some bonus air time used. Do they? Visit a Verizon store and see how much help you get from a salesman when asking about those phones -- "not bloody likely!" Yet, not every family even here in the US can or wants to supply and pay for 4 high-end phones with the data packages they require. All my friends teenage kids (mine are under 8) have nice but pretty basic phones (think the LG Chocolate). They need to text and make calls. A few bells and whistles are nice -- Brew should be more than capable of providing them. They graduate to smartphones in college. Plus, I can't imagine that India, China, S America, etc are going to be awash with IPhones or Incredibles anytime soon. Just WAY too expensive for the average person there. 4) Is Brew doomed long term Aren't we ALL doomed in the end? lol ... but I see a case being made for a Javascript/Brew type apps on billions of phones for years. Apple will NEVER make a $50 phone. Android might be used on one at some point, but why? If you don't have the screen real estate, proc power or data pipes, why do it? At the point that ALL phones will have 3x5" screens, fast pipes and decent proc speed (at say $35 wholesale), then maybe Brew is doomed. Until then, as long as carriers have a need at the low-end and QCOM does their baby-sitting (and doesn't suddenly cancel developer events -- fool me once...) then there should be a place for Brew for years and years imho.