Press Release
Sophia Cradle Incorporated
Sophia Cradle Releases Open-source Web Browser for BREW Phones
An indstry breakthrough multi-window tab browser for mobile phones
Abstract
KYOTO — February 25, 2004 — Sophia Cradle Incorporated (Headquarter: Kyoto; CEO: Kazunori Sugiyama), an innovative developer of mobile phone software, today announced the release of an industry breakthrough web browser for BREW [*1]-equipped mobile phones. The browser is based on tab [*2] system, with which a user can switch tabs to view different web sites overcoming hardware limitations such as mobile phone screen size. Sophia Cradle aims to popularize SophiaFramework [*3] by opening sources of the browser. Free evaluation version is available until March 5, 2004. Sophia Cradle will demonstrate the browser at the Sophia Cradle's booth (No.86) at the Third International Keitai Forum that will be held in Kyoto soon.
Full Story
Sophia Cradle has implemented a multi-window web browser SophiaBrowser(BREW) on BREW-equipped mobile phones. It overcomes hardware limitations, such as handset screen size and memory capacity, by using the tab system with which a user can switch tabs to view different web sites. This type of browser is generally known as tab-browser [*4], and has been popular in computers. On the other hand, there was no tab-browsing system for mobile phones prior to SophiaBrowser(BREW).
SophiaBrowser(BREW) enables a user to view multiple web sites on a handset. With other mobile phone web browser, a user could only view one web site at a time. However, SophiaBrowser enables viewing of multiple web sites by switching tabs that are attached to each window as an index. This tab method utilizes small screen size of a handset and minimizes the memory that is required when running the browser.
SophiaBrowser(BREW) is implemented over SophiaFramework, which is another one of Sophia Cradle's products that improves productivity of BREW application development and maintenance. It is offered as application programming interface (API) [*5] so that the browser itself can be customized by adding functions such as user interface.
Pricing and Availability
Sophia Cradle provides free evaluation version of SophiaBrowser(BREW) with the source codes. The purpose of opening sources is to popularize the BREW development framework SophiaFramework among BREW application developers.
Applying for SophiaFramework evaluation version:
/english/form/trial_sf.html.
Images of SophiaBrowser(BREW)
Figure 1: Viewing a web site
Figure 2: Viewing another web site by switching tabs
Figure 3: Bookmarks
Figure 4: Saving URL on a bookmark
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Terms
[*1] BREW (Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless)
The standard of mobile phone software developed by QUALCOMM Incorporated, released in January 2001. BREW applications work fast no matter what the underlying system software in the handset is. A user can download a compiled BREW application from the Internet and use it with any BREW-enabled handset. The worldwide spread of BREW is remarkable, and there are many network operators that provide BREW services, including Japan's KDDI which started offering it in February 2003.
A small flap used for quick access that projects out from the end of a page or file folder. An index is attached to each window, so that a user can easily switch windows by selecting or clicking the index. On-screen tabs are widely used in control panels and other setting dialogs.
Middleware released by Sophia Cradle in August 2002. It runs on BREW and consists of three layers: graphical user interface (GUI), C++ utility library and C++ wrappers. SophiaFramework helps a developer create a high-quality BREW application in a short period of time. The technology of SophiaFramework is used in many top-selling BREW applications in Japan.
More about SophiaFramework:
/english/products/sophiaframework/index.html
Internet browser that switches multiple web pages by tabs so that a user can view them in one window. Without tabs, using a browser is troublesome bacause a new window is created as a user opens a new page. However, tab browser only creates one window for multiple pages. It creates a switchable tab for each page, making it easier to browse the Internet bacause the browser and other application's windows are not necessarily on top of each other. Another advantage of using tab browser is that it does not consume too much hardware sources.
[*5] Application programming interface (API)
A language and message format used by an application program to communicate with the operating system or some other control program. APIs are implemented by writing function calls in the program, which provide the linkage to the required subroutine for execution. Thus, an API implies that some program module is available in the computer to perform the operation or that it must be linked into the existing program to perform the tasks.
* Trademarks associated with QUALCOMM Incorpotated and BREW are trademarks and registered trademarks of QUALCOMM Incorporated.
About Sophia Cradle
Sophia Cradle Incorporated is a mobile phone software developer which currently specializes in BREW C++, GUI middleware and mobile Java. Founded in 2002, Sophia Cradle aims to render services to the improvement of everyone's quality of life by creating innovative mobile Internet technology. For more information about Sophia Cradle, please visit www.s-cradle.com/english/.