Update: Qualcomm mixes a new BREW with IBM and Linux

At LinuxWorld in New York City this week, IBM announced that Qualcomm will be installing IBM eServers running the Linux operating system as it expands its BREW-based wireless services to a broader market.

To provide the necessary scale to handle larger server loads, Qualcomm will run Red Hat Linux version 7.3 on more than 200 clustered IBM eServer x335 systems. The x335 servers use Intel Xeon processors and are based on IBM mainframe technology. They are linked together in clusters, or computing grids, and run IBM WebSphere Application Server software creating a virtual clearing house for hosting and developing BREW-based applications such as electronic gaming and ring tones.

"The price performance of Intel-based platforms running Linux is vastly superior for customers who were locked into a Sun [Microsystems] environment," said Stuart McRae, Systems Group executive for Intel-based servers at IBM.

The Qualcomm clearinghouse is used by application developers, content providers, device manufacturers and operators for submitting new applications and bringing them to market. Using open systems from IBM will provide three times the performance of Qualcomm’s previous system, according to an IBM spokeswoman.

Sales of the eServer and xSeries helped drive IBM’s fourth quarter revenues up 9% from last year’s fourth quarter, according to the company’s earnings report last week. Hardware and systems revenue were up 12% and 18% respectively. Global Services increased 8% from last year.

"The innovative use of the technology and integration skills that IBM brings to the table are really a game changer for companies in the telco industry who previously built their solutions on more proprietary systems," McRae said. "As time and technology have evolved, open standards have provided a lot more flexibility for them in their applications and how they address their customer needs."

Qualcomm used IBM business partner Direct Systems Support to implement the new Linux systems which through a phased implementation will replace a legacy Sun Solaris platform.

"This is a testament to all the things you have been hearing from [IBM] the last couple of years on Linux and open standards," McRae said.

IBM also announced the availability of a its Carrier Grade Open Framework (CGOF) Reference Implementation. This new Linux-based platform, which includes CGOF compliant hardware and middleware components and services, is designed to address obstacles faced by service providers when combating the increasing costs of network operation, decrease the complexity of introducing change into their network infrastructures, and reduce the cycle time for implementing new packet-based services.

The CGOF results from IBM’s commitment six months ago at Supercomm to aggressively invest in and deliver integrated Linux-based solutions for the telecommunications market. It includes hardware, software and a set of utilities, tools and documents to speed the deployment of high availability solutions. Components include selected IBM eServer, NEBS and non-NEBS rack optimized xSeries and BladeCenter systems. IBM business partners such as Cirpack, jNETx, Lucent, Snowshore, Sylantro, and Ubiquity have been involved in pilot programs to test the IBM Carrier Grade Open Framework and its Reference Implementation.