Qualcomm Buys Content Delivery System Vendor

Qualcomm continues to build out its mobile portfolio with its recent acquisition of Elata LTD as reported by InfoWorld Nederland. According to the article, Elata "makes an over-the-air content delivery system that works with GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) and CDMA2000 networks."

Qualcomm will intergrate Elata's technology with their BREW platform to provide "mobile operators a software infrastructure for organizing and controlling content such as ringtones, wallpaper graphics and applications, as well as applications on the Java and Brew platforms."

According to Albert Lin at American Technology Research:

Downloading of content is a relatively new phenomenon in the cellular world, and mobile operators want better technology to control what their customers can access and use. For example, they want to prevent subscribers from downloading ringtones or using mobile e-mail systems from outside providers. They also want to manage use rights for copyright material to prevent piracy. Elata's system is essentially a tool for operators to create and manage "walled gardens" of their own revenue-generating content and services.