Data-centric methods and tools help developers optimize system resource usage and abstract data management coding from hardware-specifics, simplifying wireless device development, reducing time to market and managing BOM costs.
Developing software for wireless devices is challenging. Cost considerations limit system resources in terms of CPU performance, memory, storage, power and bandwidth, putting pressure on software engineers to develop code which optimizes resource usage efficiency. Supporting different displays can force painstaking changes to multiple software modules and applications. Different CPUs, operating systems, storage media, mobile platform environments and JVM implementations create time-consuming porting and testing issues. In addition, fast changing market requirements means that product specifications will be a moving target. Yet, despite these many challenges, development timelines are shrinking and wireless service operators and consumers demand a reliable device with a high-quality user experience.
These challenges are well-known and have been partially addressed by in-house and commercial software efforts to develop various abstraction techniques and APIs. These efforts have helped shield software developers from underlying hardware and software platform-specifics. Further up the stack, J2ME and the emergence of the Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) have provided additional abstractions to ease development for mobile handset applications.
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Wireless Design & Development
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