The iPhone is Already the Top Mobile Browser

[Jerry Raia]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.macworld.com/article/132897/2008/04/iphonetop.html' target='_blank'>http://www.macworld.com/article/132.../iphonetop.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>&quot;It's been on the market for just six months, and already the iPhone (plus its Wi-Fi-only variant, the iPod Touch) is the most used mobile browser for Internet access in the U.S., according to Irish researcher StatCounter. At No. 2 is the Symbian OS used in Nokia's devices. Globally, the two positions are reversed. In either case, Windows Mobile -- in all its versions -- is just a blip.&quot;</em></p><p><img border="0" alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/spt/auto/1207874930.usr6.jpg" /></p><p>This just seems impossible doesn't it? How can that slick, constantly and&nbsp;dynamically evolving WM browser get beat out by the new kid on the block? I'll tell you how. WM fell asleep face down in the corn flakes at the breakfast table. The only way a company bigger than some countries could let this happen is by being unconscious. Oh but don't worry, 6.1 is on the horizon with (sound of trumpets) zoom in/zoom out browsing! Even better, it will arrive well after the next generation iPhone has been out a while. Makes your eyes water doesn't it?</p>

[peterf]

they forced everyone to get a $20 data plan, of course they arent going to let it go for nothing. I know MANY MANY people with Windows Mobile phones without a data plan, they like them because they have GOOD KEYBOARDS FOR TEXTING, and dont require web browsing, hence them not showing up in these statistics.

[stevew]

Sure 6.1 is coming out but, when will the carriers release it or will they even? A new update comes out and it's weeks maybe months before it's available to users with existing units. Want it now, buy a new phone.

I'm telling you WM is on it's way out. I see Microsoft dropping WM like a hot potato before to long. It's time we all face it and get ready for that.

Just my 2 cents

[Russ Smith]

I agree completely that MS has been asleep when it comes to developing their mobile browser but I'd offer one ameliatory comment nonetheless. One reason that WM is "just a blip" is that many (most?) of us who actually use the browser find it works better when it's masquerading. Many sites which actually can work with PIE are set up to complain when PIE shows up as the browser ID string.

That said, it's clear that PIE could be much, much better. Opera Mobile (and Mini), NetFront, and others (including the iPhone Safari) show what's possible.

[Kamokazi]

Heh, I can't even get a desktop browser to handle cnet.com very well.

And yes, PIE is an absolute joke, Opera Mobile is what I use for regular browsing.

[BBF]

It certainly does help that ALL iPhones come with internet access and have a half VGA screen.

But I do agree that the mobile IE that comes standard with WM 6 is pitiful, doesn't help things at all.

[Fritzly]

Since Microsoft became obsessed to be accepted by big corporation they stopped to be innovative.
Bill Gates and Jim Allchin should get back and replace all these bean counters running or, to be more exact sinking, the company!
WM is a perfect example of this nefarious behaviour; nowadays everybody carry a phone but in spite of this they kept focusing only on the corporate segment.
A quick look at the trend of MS in the stock market is the best proof, if any is needed of what a failure the actual management is. Even Ms. Fiorina could not have done more damages.

[whydidnt]

While Microsoft has to take a huge portion of the "blame" for this. They aren't alone, their OEM/ODM partners have failed miserably in the hardware department. Part of the reason the iPhone Safari experience is better and more usable is the larger high resolution screen, fast processor and plentiful memory. Every WM phone falls on it's face in at least one 2 of these areas, and most don't even hit it on any of them. Apple has done a great job of combining the software and hardware to make the mobile experience decent.

We also can't count out demographics here, though. I suspect most iPhone owners are most likely 18-30 years old and the device is used for more personal purposes. These people simply use the internet more than what the typical WM user does - at home and on the go. How many WM devices have been issued by corporations to a 50 year old executive that simply uses it read email and check his calendar?

[volwrath]

How many browsers can you run on an iphone? How many on a WM6 device? I currently have 4 loaded, and use skyfire the most (and skyfire will do things the iphone only dreams about)

[Fritzly]

How many browsers can you run on an iphone? How many on a WM6 device? I currently have 4 loaded, and use skyfire the most (and skyfire will do things the iphone only dreams about)

Personally as many as I want.
Besides this is not the point; how many people would even think about using a different browser than the standard MS IE that came preloded on the computer they bought? What you, I or other people posting here are willing and able to do does not represent what the average user would or could do.

[Fritzly]

While Microsoft has to take a huge portion of the "blame" for this. They aren't alone, their OEM/ODM partners have failed miserably in the hardware department.

We also can't count out demographics here, though. I suspect most iPhone owners are most likely 18-30 years old and the device is used for more personal purposes.


I could not agree more with the first part of your statement but why MS did not make a SmartPhone? Apple proved that carriers are just "paper tigers" and they would have fought among each others to be able to offer an original and revolutionary product.

I dsagree about the second part of your statement though; besides myself, I am fifty, I know a lot of people of my age and older that bought the iPhone because they could not handle anymore the frustration caused by the clumsiness of WM ones and are, as well as me, waiting for the iPhone Software 2 and the upcoming PocketInformant for the same platform.
Of course there are also a lot of people with a different opinion but the fact that a huge amount of users, or potential ones, are frustrated with WM is a fact that could not and should not be ignored, less than ever by managers making millions per year running MS.

[ucfgrad93]

How many browsers can you run on an iphone? How many on a WM6 device? I currently have 4 loaded, and use skyfire the most (and skyfire will do things the iphone only dreams about)

Why would I want to load 4 different browsers on my iPhone, when Safari does a great job? And out of curiosity, what does skyfire do that the iPhone only dreams about?

[Stinger]

I think what's more shocking is that Nokia's browser beats WinMo in the US.

Nokia's S60 platform doesn't have a touchscreen. S60 handsets are sold in a lot of countries where data is prohibitively expensive or simply not available. Most of the devices have QVGA screens.

And somehow it beats WinMo in the US market.

What the hell is going on here?

[stevew]

How many browsers can you run on an iphone? How many on a WM6 device? I currently have 4 loaded, and use skyfire the most (and skyfire will do things the iphone only dreams about)


One excellent browser is all I need. :)

[phreaker18]

i really does sadden me to read such news and does make me want to cry but hey im a grown man... [i just might cry if u promise not to tell anyone]... i really do fail to understand the mentality of the people over at M$... i mean what r they thinking .... inspite of all of this AS & M$ Exchange will now be licensed to those iPeople ... damn.. why doesnt anyone care about WM is that passionate manner that we all would like to see ... i feel as if im rambling but i cant help it i really feel helpless... dejected and disillusioned !! PERIOD !!:mad:

[subzerohf]

I think we should wait and give WM 6.1 a chance before (resuming) bashing M$ ;)

[virain]

Sorry to say, but PIE is all that I use for browsing..., But then again, I don't do it that much. Maybe it's just me or maybe it's a browsing experience

[Rocco Augusto]

I do agree that Apple's mobile browser is way ahead of the curve compared to Microsoft, but there is a lot more to the quality of the browsing experience than the browser technology. One of my main annoyances with PIE isn't the fault of the software at all but instead the fact that our Smartphone screens are so tiny that even if we had a nice Safari-like browser, it wouldn't matter since there is not enough screen real-estate to make it useful. :(

[Jerry Raia]

I do agree that Apple's mobile browser is way ahead of the curve compared to Microsoft, but there is a lot more to the quality of the browsing experience than the browser technology. One of my main annoyances with PIE isn't the fault of the software at all but instead the fact that our Smartphone screens are so tiny that even if we had a nice Safari-like browser, it wouldn't matter since there is not enough screen real-estate to make it useful. :(

Good point about the screen size.

[doogald]

One of my main annoyances with PIE isn't the fault of the software at all but instead the fact that our Smartphone screens are so tiny that even if we had a nice Safari-like browser, it wouldn't matter since there is not enough screen real-estate to make it useful. :(

Hmmm, you should give Opera Mini 4.1 a try. It works pretty well, given the screen real estate.

[volwrath]

Why would I want to load 4 different browsers on my iPhone, when Safari does a great job? And out of curiosity, what does skyfire do that the iPhone only dreams about?

I agree safari on iphone is rather nice (on wifi). Skyfire will play anything flashbased or not. Streams Youtube directly from the real youtube site. Streams hulu content. i've even streamed a windows media plugin of a radio station which I could never get to play with WMP, including advertisements.

Basically its been my experience skyfire will do anything a desktop browser will do such as any ajax and flash, any multimedia plugin, anything. Although as with any product your milage may vary :p

edit: heres a demo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mWUoxiLZFc no rickroll I promise :)

The only issue I have with skyfire is its server based, so i am a bit leery of inputting sensitive information. I ill probably use opera mobile for that (whose semi beta is very nice looking so far)

[unxmully]

I think we should wait and give WM 6.1 a chance before (resuming) bashing M$ ;)

Well I would but HP aren't going to provide a build for my phone so I can't.