Column: 'Going Mobile: Verizon Gets It Now at BREW 2006'

In one of today's main features on Gamasutra, the latest 'Going Mobile' column from former GameSpot Mobile and Wireless Gaming Review chief editor Steve Palley looks at Qualcomm’s annual BREW conference, held in San Diego last week, focusing on how Verizon Wireless' startling announcements there affect all mobile game firms. Steve, who is now heading up mobile game consulting firm Foci Mobile, comments of why the conference is so important: "In essence, BREW positions Qualcomm as the ultimate middleman; for a small cut of the action, the company manages all of the horribly convoluted logistics of wireless commerce, allowing the various members of the supply chain to specialize on what they do best, while rendering the whole process completely opaque to the consumer. This is a very good thing for everyone involved--especially Qualcomm, because growth in wireless data nourishes their core business of selling increasingly complex multimedia chipsets for mobile phones. Among many other carriers’ data services, BREW technology drives Verizon Wireless’ Get It Now storefront, which is widely considered to be the prime mover behind wireless data growth in the U.S. It may sound a little far-fetched, but in terms of revenue potential, it’s absolutely true: The Qualcomm/Verizon Wireless tandem is one of the most important alliances in video games that you’ve never heard of." You can now read the full Gamasutra column on the subject for more of Palley's insight on BREW and the announcements made there (no registration required, please feel free to link to this article from external websites).