Mozilla Firefox Browser for Smartphones

For accessing the internet you need to have a web browser. Most of the browsers which are available at in the present market face security problems. Mozilla is a browser with many safety features and is being increasingly used amongst internet users. The latest buzz is that Mozilla foundation will be soon coming to mobile phones. Its role as browser in the desktop market being a success now, Mozilla treads ahead to make an impact on consumer devices like mobile phones.

The advent of 3G and HSDPA technologies has augmented the pace to access the internet. With that, the demand for software to easily modify web pages to fit the small screens has increased. The Mozilla Foundation has confirmed that they are working on a mobile browser. Nokia has funded a project at the Mozilla foundation to develop mobile phone browser. The resultant project is named “Minimo”. The technology used in it, shrinks the less important images from the web pages so as to give the user a single column. With this the user need to scroll only vertically. Minimo 0.3 will facilitate enhanced web page navigation. The users, with the help of the arrow keys, would be able to move between links on the web page. Minimo 0.3 will also automatically complete URLs as they are being typed in.

There is stiff competition among the various web browsers. There is Apple’s Safari that provides access to the full sites, instead of accessing sites with content trimmed down for the small screens. Safari’s touch interface makes it easier for users to manage web pages. Mozilla Firefox is not far behind; it will be able to work with a touch screen and will also be available with a non-touch user interface. Another competition is from Opera web browser which also facilitates very fast access and does indeed offer smooth scrolling and panning like that of the Apple iphone. But when it comes to the navigational side opera likes the use of a stylus whereas on the iphone it is possible with the use of your finger.

All these web browsers are competing to be the market winner for mobile browsers. There are certain technical hurdles in the process as well, mainly because of small displays, low bandwidth, less processing power and less memory of the conventional mobile phone gadgets. Braving all odds, Mozilla’s Minimo is getting small enough to give other mobile phone browsers a run for their money.