Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam has opened up the JavaOne conference with a surprising announcement for Java developers and mobile software houses today.
Beginning later this summer, Verizon Wireless will change its strategy regarding application development and platforms by deploying Java Platform Micro Edition-based services in its network and begin to offer Java-based services and applications to its subscribers alongside the BREW application and service ecosystem it currently supports.
The above dual-platform support is new for a US carrier as Japan’s KDDI AU is currently the only carrier to support both Java and BREW ecosystems through handset tiering, with CDMA 1xWIN handsets supporting BREW while CDMA 1x phones support Java.
The reasoning behind the shift to Java is rooted in the explosive popularity of location and presence based services such as Loopt as well as other applications that rely on specific network information.
Consumer facing deployment of Java services is expected later this summer with no specific information on supported handsets at this time.
[…] announcement follows Verizon’s initial announcement made last summer regarding support for Java Mobile Edition and subsequent confirmation of initial […]
[…] announcement follows Verizon’s initial announcement made last summer regarding support for Java Mobile Edition and subsequent confirmation of initial […]