In early April we reported on an early prototype of Firefox Mobile. Code-named "Fennec", it was only recommended for use on Nokia N810 devices. At the time, we felt that Firefox Mobile showed a lot of promise. Today screenshots have surfaced showing Firefox Mobile running on the Windows Mobile OS. We can't deny that we still think it shows promise and we're eagerly anticipating its release.
Firefox Mobile looks to be coming to a Windows Mobile device near you very soon. With a reported Acid3 Test score of 88/100, the mobile web browser looks nearly complete in the screenshots that have surfaced. The address bar is reminiscent of Safari on the iPhone. However, it takes a visual cue from Firefox 3 with the addition of website favicons. Screenshots also show a really unique way for web surfers to visualize what tabs are open in Firefox Mobile. Mozilla may be foregoing traditional 'forward', 'stop', and 'back' buttons located in the address bar. Instead, the screenshots show on-page text boxes that indicate these actions.
Firefox Mobile is shaping up to be a real knock out. We can't wait until we can give you a hands-on review of the mobile browser. It will be interesting to see how Firefox Mobile can hold up against established game players like Pocket Internet Explorer, Safari Mobile, Opera Mobile, and Skyfire. We'll be sure to keep you posted as more details hit the web. Are you looking forward to Firefox Mobile? What features and functionality do you hope Mozilla doesn't leave out in the future?
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I'm really looking forward to it, the more information I see about it. Mozilla really seems to not just copy the existing features, they seem to do innovative stuff.
I can't wait to see it launch for Windows Mobile, I'll definitely install it and hope their ideas will inspire the other browser companies to further improve their products.
Competition in the browser market is so great!
Posted by: Sebastian | October 12, 2008 3:10 PM
I just hope they will include support for 3rd party applications, like Google Gears for instance. That is what I miss with mobile browsers.
Posted by: Kris | October 12, 2008 3:37 PM
As long as it loads faster than skyfire, I'm in.
Posted by: David | October 12, 2008 11:17 PM
It's quite interesting to see real screenshots of FF Mobile ("Fennec") from the concept: http://lifehacker.com/395894/firefox-mobile-concept-video-looks-promising
I notice there are some font issues in the screenshots?
Posted by: Robin Hak | October 12, 2008 11:43 PM
I want an iphone version! safari sucks
Posted by: Tahiri | October 12, 2008 11:51 PM
Yep, I want an iPhone version too. Safari doesn't suck, but I'd like flash to watch vids, listen music, play games etc..
Posted by: Ebrahim | October 13, 2008 12:15 AM
If it's anything like the desktop version it's going to be awesome. Can't wait till it launches.
Posted by: Jesse Vlasveld | October 13, 2008 12:24 AM
The day is fast approaching when the need for a computer during one's travels will be reduced to zero. The Japanese, particularly the young, are letting go of their PCs and simply going mobile.
Posted by: John Larkin | October 13, 2008 1:37 AM
Safari on iPhone needed a competition and here it is.
Posted by: Deeda | October 13, 2008 3:32 AM
The mobile browser market is pretty saturated because of Opera. Opera Mini does 90% of the web, is lightning fast and is free. Opera Mobile does 99% of the web with tabbed browsing but costs money.
Because it is Firefox, it will probably be downloaded a lot at first but unless it has the power of Opera Mobile, and differentiates itself with the ability to use plug-ins, it won't compete.
Posted by: SLEZE | October 13, 2008 5:05 AM
“Mozilla may be foregoing traditional ‘forward’, ’stop’, and ‘back’ buttons located in the address bar. Instead, the screenshots show on-page text boxes that indicate these actions.”
Note that that screenshot is of “mybrowser” which is a simplistic embedding test application, and not indicative of the actual mobile browser that’s being worked on. The other screenshots show Fennec, which is the mobile Firefox browser.
Posted by: Ted Mielczarek | October 13, 2008 5:34 AM
Oh yeah! It's about time folks. Does anyone know the expected release date?
Posted by: Miguel Wickert | October 13, 2008 8:07 AM
do you think opera is better?
Posted by: ama | October 13, 2008 9:11 AM
Finally mobile internet is maturing - remember the good old days of using WAP ...
Posted by: iPod | October 13, 2008 11:33 AM
I cant wait for this to get released. It cant come soon enough.
Posted by: James | October 13, 2008 12:28 PM
ahhhh, still trying to drap the PC internet onto mobile phones. It should be a site owner's responsiblity to create a rich mobile output that works on all phones worldwide.
It's a small investment of time and money to reach a huge market appropriately. Mobile ads, mobile behavioral targeting, billing, data capture, mobile is a whole eco-system. I can't wait until these companies either run out of funding or interest.
Posted by: vince | October 13, 2008 3:58 PM
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Fennec/Releases
Posted by: kobayaschi | October 16, 2008 12:54 PM
But will it work on my Axim X5?
Posted by: Joseph Grabko | October 16, 2008 7:12 PM
hi, is there any version for symbian available as well ?
Posted by: Social Media Marketing Blog | October 19, 2008 12:19 PM
If you want a hands on, you dont have to wait, do some google work and you can download it and use it on your windows or mac machine
Posted by: moonman272 | October 19, 2008 7:22 PM