A different BREW
A challenger to Java is Qualcomm's Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW). Proponents of BREW say that this technology is built into the chip of the phone itself, so applications can run faster than Java.
This is also where Java's strength becomes its Achilles' Heel. Java-enabled devices come with an additional interpreter called the Java virtual machine (JVM). The JVM translates the application's programming code for each individual device, thereby ensuring platform independence. However, this JVM takes a toll on performance.
According to Danielle Jones, director of business development at technology firm TTPCom, this is a significant stumbling block in processor-intensive games. TTPCom has developed a graphics engine that, by harnessing BREW, improves the performance of handsets.
She also pointed out that despite the universality mantra touted by Sun, Java applications are not fully interoperable. Something written for a Nokia, for instance, will not work with a Sony Ericsson phone. This is due to the different application programming interfaces (APIs) used by each manufacturer, she said.
To that, Sony Ericsson's Jose-Maria Bescos, senior manager for Global Product Marketing, argued that while the problem exists, it is still relatively easier for developers to tweak their applications to suit various J2ME-compliant handsets.
While the battle between Qualcomm and Sun is still going on, some analysts are already predicting a winner.
"Java will eventually win out," said Michael King, a senior wireless application analyst at Gartner Dataquest.
Sun is also responding to J2ME's performance concerns. It is currently working on a project called "Monty" to speed up the performance of JVMs by a factor of five to 10.
| Intro | History of Java | Handsets | BREW | Developers | Conclusion |
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