Qualcomm Develops Software Platform for Mobile Phone Applications

Qualcomm Inc. said it developed a software platform that will make it easier to add complex games, music and other applications to mobile phones. The platform will allow software developers to create standard programs for downloading applications that work in phones and other wireless devices from a variety of manufacturers, company officials said. Several manufacturers and wireless carriers have signed agreements to begin using the new technology, and Qualcomm expects phones built with the technology will start to be available to the public by the fall, a company spokeswoman said. The platform is known as BREW, for binary runtime environment for wireless. Initially, it will be available to phones powered by Qualcomm’s patented CDMA chip technology. But the company said eventually it will be available to other systems. Other companies, including Motorola Inc., are also developing common operating systems that will make it easier to add more applications to phones and handheld wireless devices. Shares of San Diego-based Qualcomm fell $1.63 to close at $84.06 on Nasdaq.