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You've just bought that new mobile phone and can't wait to access the Internet through it?
You are not alone. With more and more mobile users wanting to browse the Net on the move, mobile Internet is gaining ground. And 3G, which offers more by way of Internet and data services, is expected to further fuel the action.
Internet browser firms such as Opera or Mozilla Firefox and handset makers such as Nokia have native browsers in place. The mobile user can also download browsers as a free option from an apps store. Alternatively, co-branding with telecom companies and tie-ups with them has emerged as another option for browser firms.
Globally, mobile browser users are expected to grow to 1.6 billion in 2014 and over 1 billion Operating Software shipments are expected in 2015, say industry sources.
A mobile browser enables high compression of data which, in turn, facilitates faster Internet browsing. It also allows easy accommodation of web pages on a low-memory and low-bandwidth device such as the mobile phone.
Anusha Subramani, Senior Research Executive at Tonse Telecom, says operating system-enabled phones such as Android (Google) or iOS (Apple) have options where users can download other browsers from their application store rather than built-in default browsers.
“Many browsers like Opera are free download applications and use Google as a default search engine. There is also Bing where users can customise their search engine,” she says. Browsers that already have a large number of desktop users are likely to have an edge in the browser wars, she feels.
Add-ons, a draw
Mozilla Firefox, an open source browser, has different versions of its software; Maemo for Nokia N9000 phones, another for Android handsets and a Firefox home for iPhone.
Others such as Opera or Microsoft IE mobile are already present in the market. Google Android has come out with an open source web browser, for its Android operating systems. UC Browsers, present on platforms such as iOS, Android and Symbian, has now introduced a new UC 7.8 version for Blackberry handsets.
“Users will prefer a browser that is in sync with the desktop browser. Plus, if add-ons are developed for the mobile browsers, then they might become a sought after application,” points out Anusha Subramani of Tonse Telecom.
Co-branding and Tie-Ups
While browsers on Android and Apple phones are handset-controlled, some pure software browsers also opt for co-branding and tie-ups with telecom companies (operators). In case of a co-branding, the operator pushes these browsers as applications to connect to their application stores.
Recently, Vodafone Essar and Opera Software announced the launch of a co-branded version of the Opera Mini mobile browser, available across the former's network in India. The co-branded browser will offer shortcuts for easy access to Vodafone Essar features.
InfoGin, a global provider of mobile browsing solutions that enable mobile carriers and publishers to provide Internet services on any mobile device, has announced tie-ups with two Indian carriers.
InfoGin says its content adaptation solution automatically analyses the Web content and reformats it according to its importance, thereby allowing the best possible display for the mobile device capabilities and operator network characteristics.
Handset Makers
Mobile handset makers too have been quick to jump on the bandwagon. Nokia has come out with some new browser-enabled handsets. The company, using its acquisition of US browser company Novarra, will develop browsers for its S40 series (Symbian) of handsets.
“The Nokia Browser for Series 40 phones is built on a server-based architecture. This processes web content and compresses the amount of data traffic, enabling faster access to the Internet than browsers in other competitors' devices,” the company said in an e-mailed response to Business Line .
Says Navin Mishra, lead analyst at Cyber Media Research India: “Primarily, browsers are a function of operating system of the handset. It is a known fact that handset manufacturers push their own browsers or any browser which they feel will suit their offerings.” But, akin to the desktop, the user has the option to download multiple browsers on his/her handset.
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