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2009-12-23 10:56:03
By Jonathan Fildes
Technology reporter, BBC News
The first mobile phone version of the popular web browser Firefox is "days
away" from launch, the head of the project has told the BBC.
The browser, codenamed Fennec, will initially be available for Nokia's N900
phone, followed by other handsets.
It is currently going through final testing and could be released before the
end of the year, said Jay Sullivan at Mozilla, the group behind Firefox.
The open-source browser will be able to synchronise with the desktop version.
Software will mean that any web pages open in a user's desktop browser will
automatically open in the mobile version.
"At the end of the working day you can walk away from your computer and keep on
going on your phone," Mr Sullivan told the BBC.
"It encrypts all of the information and sends it back through the cloud between
your desktop and mobile."
He said that providing there were no "show stoppers", the software could be
available to download "within the year".
Desktop success
The browser will be available to download from the Mozilla website and then
offered in Nokia's Ovi store, so that N900 owners can download the software.
The organisation is also developing versions for Microsoft's Windows mobile and
Google's Android operating system.
However, he said that it would be some time before iPhone users would be able
to use the browser.
"Apple is very restrictive." he said. "As it's a pretty closed platform we
don't see that happening soon."
Apple only allows browsers based on its Webkit engine, which is used to power
its Safari browser, to be loaded on to the iPhone. Firefox uses alternative
technology.
When it launches, Fennec will compete with browsers such as Opera, which is the
most popular mobile browser according to analytics firm Stats Counter.
Safari, which comes bundled with the iPhone, is the second most popular, whilst
Nokia's own browser is third.
The mobile version of Firefox will hope to follow the success of its desktop
browser.
Stats Counter has reported that the latest version of the Firefox browser has
overtaken Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) as the World's most popular browser with
21.93% of the market, compared with IE7's share of 21.2%.
However, other firms suggest IE still has the lead on Firefox, whilst most
agree that the various versions of Explorer combined still dominate the web
browser market.
App craze
Fennec has been in development for the last year and a half.
The new software has many of the features of the desktop version, such as
tabbed browsing, and an address bar that doubles as a search box.
However, the mobile version will also scale pages to fit the device and will
support functions such as tapping the screen to zoom in on a page.
Mr Sullivan said it would also be the first mobile browser to have "add-ons",
small pieces of software that add functionality to the browser such as news
readers or online games. They can also be used to customise the look and feel
of the browser.
"Because it is a browser for a mobile device, the add-ons will be different,"
said Mr Sullivan. "You'll see ones that use geo-location and exploit how the
device is tilted."
The add-ons will add functionality to the phone that is currently offered by
mobile apps.
These small specialist pieces of software have become increasingly popular.
For example, Apple now offer more than 100,000 apps in its store ranging from
games and social networks to news readers and tools that allow people to use
sites such as eBay or Amazon on the go.
Blackberry, Google, Nokia, Symbian and Microsoft all offer their own app
stores.
However, he said that he did not think that the browser would completely
replace these apps.
"They will co-exist," he said.