I would think that KDDI is following DoCoMo's strategy of definining the
application environment from the ground up (see MOAP-S and MOAP-L).
Manufacturers shipping handsets to KDDI have to apply KDDI's specs each and
every time to every device. By defining the OS and middleware to KDDI's
specs from the outset, the manufacturers reduce the work they have to do
everytime they develop a new handset. This model has recently being copied
by S60 catering to Vodafone. I believe this is where the 'cost savings' come
from.
An additional source of cost savings is that software IP relating to new
features can be driven centrally by KDDI, essentially replacing expensive
R&D for new features by cheaper IP licensing. (in the way Mitsubishi
licensed Fujitsu's original UI/middleware which has now become MOAP-S)
What's intriguing is that BREW is already a middleware platform and that
Qualcomm is involved in this project. I guess that Qualcomm gets to promote
BREW to the de facto OS used by KDDI, while KDDI gets to control certain
important components within the BREW environment.
As for the term 'OS', I wouldn't take it literally. The only reason the KDDI
+ BREW + manufacturer coalition would benefit by spec'ing an OS would be
that it would reduce the porting work needed for BREW. I therefore believe
that the announcement is mostly about creating a common 'flavour' of BREW
that is adopted by all KDDI manufacturers.
Any more 'insider' views are more than welcome.
Andreas
VisionMobile.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Houser [mailto:houser@kinjo-u.ac.jp]
Sent: 25 July 2006 05:51
To: keitai-l@appelsiini.net
Subject: (keitai-l) Re: KDDI_OS
On 7/24/06, Nick May <nick@kyushu.com> wrote:
> Anyone any thoughts on this mysterious new OS planned by KDDI to run
> phones?
> http://www.theregister.com/2006/07/21/new_phone_os/
>
> From what I have read to date (the same press release cut a thousand
> ways...) it does not really add up.
Indeed! The article says:
"The move is supposed to cut the cost of producing a new handset by more
than two thirds"
Does this mean OS licencing costs twice what the hardware costs?
Or that phone manufactures hope to move hardware functions to software?
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Received on Tue Jul 25 09:52:19 2006