BREW

This is the fourth posting in the series exploring mobile technology platforms. For introduction to the series please refer to: "What technology platform to choose for development of mobile applications?"

Other postings in the series:
Mobile Messaging
Mobile Web
Mobile Java

BREW

The Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW) is a mobile runtime environment developed by Qualcomm. BREW separates applications from mobile phone hardware by providing a set of APIs. BREW applications, or applets, support rich functionality, graphics, sound and run on all BREW-enabled phones. Native BREW programs are developed in C or C++ using SDK provided by Qualcomm. In addition to SDK, to develop applications you also need the Microsoft Visual C++ compiler (to compile applications for simulation using phone emulator supplied with the SDK), and RealView or GNU cross-compiler for ARM (to compile applications for the phone CPU). Applications have to be signed with VeriSign Authentic Document ID.

In addition to C and C++, BREW supports Java and Macromedia FlashLite through so called BREW extensions. However, BREW without extensions has a significantly smaller footprint and thus Java applications have more demanding hardware requirements than C or C++.

Qualcomm not only provides a mobile runtime environment but also the BREW Delivery System (BDS), application distribution and billing platform. BDS in essence is a virtual marketplace connecting application developers and carriers, and a platform for delivering application to end users.