Pre-paid Applications

[tmassey215]

Does BREW or any of the carriers that use BREW for application distribution provide the concept of a pre-paid application?

An example scenario would be... the user purchases an application through another channel (e.g. retail, web site, etc.), given a purchase "code" and then is able to go to BREW (e.g Get It Now) on their device, enter the code and download the application.

A year or so ago I recall hearing that something similar to this was planned by Alltel, but I haven't seen any recent information on it. It seems like it is a capability that would need to come from Qualcomm/BREW.

Any info would be appreciated.

[ghodgins]

We are also interested in this capability. Does BREW offer the ability to distribute applications where settlement has already occured outside of BREW?

Further, I assume that all BREW operators operate in a walled garden. Is this correct? Can a subscriber access third party content from a BREW network as is now possible on most other carriers?

Thanks.

Greg

[ebrowne]

It's not a walled garden. BREW apps can access any place on the Internet to get content.

-Erik

[Vexxed]

This behaviour is carrier specific, but for Verizon all applications must be installed through Get It Now, or via cable to a test enabled phone.

In theory it would be possible for them to create a distribution system that matches the method used by J2ME devices where the installation is integrated into the WAP browser.

I wouldn't expect to see anything like it any time soon. There's little to no competitive advantage to doing so, and at worst it gives control over content and user eyeballs to others ... which is something I suspect the carriers are going to resist allowing to happen.

Personally I'd love it ... but whatcha gonna do.

Tom