Mozilla Fennec Firefox mobile browser beta launched

Mozilla Fennec, the latest mobile internet browser is here – almost. Mozilla has released the beta version of the Mozilla Fennec, which can be used on – hold on – only the Nokia 810 for now. Rather than promoting the Fennec as a mobile browser among final cellphone net surfers, Mozilla’s intention is to get feedback from developers and the Mozilla community.

Mozilla Fennec logo

Like the Mozilla Firefox desktop browser, the Mozilla Fennec uses the Gecko engine for rendering HTML pages. The javascript pages are rendered by TraceMonkey, Fennec’s javascript engine. (TraceMonkey will make its desktop debut with the upcoming Firefox 3.5)

Mozilla Fennec has a touchscreen interface, which means by the time the final versions of the Fennec is out, the growth of the touchscreen phone market will make it the perfect candidate to cash in on the new phones.

Some of the add-ons and plugins developed for the desktop Firefox can be used for the Mozilla Fennec mobile phone browser as well. Though it is developed for the mobile screen, the Fennec can be downloaded and run on desktop and laptop computers too – in Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. Once the final Fennec is released, the mobile version will be able to run on Windows Mobile and Symbian operating systems as well. The Nokia N800 and Nokia N810 are Linux-based operating systems.

Currently, the Mozilla Fennec internet browser is not available for downloads in iPhone, BlackBerry and Android platforms.
The Mozilla Firefox Fenenc has some features other mobile browsers currently dont have: These include: easier Bookmarks access and creation, tabbed browsing, smart URL bar (”awesome bar”), integrated Web search built into the address bar, and easy access to multiple search engines.
Like many of the new desktop applications, the Mozilla Fennec has easy zoom-in and zoom-out functions, with auto-hide function for some of the controls. This helps maximise available space for web content. On the security front, the Mozilla Fennec boasts of a pop-up blocks, clear-private-data option, password manager and instant website ID. There is also a searchable download manager. The Fennec has another interesting feature: You can directly dial a phone number from an email screen or a webpage. Flash support is not available yet. But the Mozilla Fennec still has plugins available to watch videos online.

Needless to say, the Mozilla Fennec is open-source and free for downloads. The Fennec is developed as a “full browser” and not a “WAP browser.” This means that WAP standards like WML and WMLScript will not be available on the Mozilla Firefox Fennec mobile internet browser.

While developing the Fennec browser for mobile and portable devices, Mozilla went in for the tried and tested Gecko engine rather than the increasingly popular WebKit. Mozilla has a reason for it. WebKit is backed by three internet giants – Nokia, Apple and Google (NAG). Mozilla feels that the mobile web should not be identified with only these device manufacturers, who have a vested interest in promoting their own devices and platforms. Besides, Mozilla’s comfort level with working on the Gecko engine made it plump for the same one. The first version of Mozilla Fennec will be delivered on Gecko 1.9.1. The Fennec project was first launched in 2007 when Mozilla established its new mobile team.

Currently, the leader of the free mobile browser market is the Opera Mini, which has several versions built for various mobile phones. The latest version, Opera Mini 4.2 is available for Palm OS 3.x, Windows Mobile 2003 SE, Symbian, Windows Mobile 2003, Palm OS 2.x, Pocket PC 2000, Palm OS 4.x, Windows Mobile 5.x, Palm OS 5.x, Pocket PC 2002, Windows Mobile 2003 Phone Edition, Symbian UIQ 2.x.

Pocket Express 4.25, another free mobile web browser developed by Handmark, is a browser built specifically for BlackBerry handhelds. It works on BlackBerry OS 3.x, BlackBerry OS 1.x, BlackBerry OS 4.x, BlackBerry OS 2.x operating systems.

AvantGo mobile browser, from iAnywhere Solutions, is custom-built for Palm handhelds. It is available for Palm OS 3.x, Palm OS 4.x, available for free downloads. The Eudora Internet Suite, developed by Qualcomm, is also available for Palm phones. Expedition WAP Browser, from C&M Software, is a WML browser. It supports SSL cryptography of 128 bytes and offers complete security in information interchange between the WAP server and your browser. This too is available only for Palm.

Network Browser, built by V-Mobile Software, is available exclusively for Windows Mobile 2003 platform. Its a free-to-try, $18-to-buy software.
Some other internet mobile browsers of interest are: Minuet Browser, WebToGo, Iris Browser 1.0 beta, MyiOTA Mobile Media Browser, WebMate: Tabbed Browser, and Mobicip Safe Browser.