BREW

From Mobileradicals

About BREW

BREW can be viewed as: a set of APIs that enable developers to create software applications for cellular phones, and a means of selling and delivering applications. BREW sits between a software application and the Qualcomm Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) level software. BREW applications can be written using C, C++, or now in Java with the implementation of a MIDP 2.0 KVM. BREW is supported by the freely available Software Development Kit (SDK) which allows applications to be developed then tested using the BREW Emulator. To commence commercial development several additional costs must be incurred: firstly, in order to access tools fundamental to actual hardware, the developer must be authenticated which requires a subscription; secondly; the CPUs used in BREW phones are currently produced by ARM and since C/C++ applications run natively on the device, an ARM compiler is required; and finally an application must pass TRUE BREW certification before a carrier will make it available on their network which again requires an additional cost However, once achieved, the application is made available for download on the networks, where all distribution and billing issues are taken care of for the developer.