Skyfire unveils iPhone-like browser for smartphones
Because Skyfire uses proxy servers to intercept browser requests which are then compressed and sent to Skyfire enabled phones, Skyfire promises it is the ‘fastest loading mobile browser on the market”. This proxy server technology also has the smarts to take AJAX, Flash video, Java and other ‘desktop class’ features that normally slow down mobile browsers dramatically (if those features are even supported) and render them correctly, truly giving mobile users the holy grail of desktop class Internet browsing on the go – without needing to carrying an ultraportable PC around with you.
Skyfire says that their system doesn’t cause mobile users to change their web behaviour when doing mobile surfing, and because their technology is so advanced, users will not see weird page layouts, ‘unrecognisable content’ or missing features as is quite common with most mobile browers today.
If Skyfire becomes popular, their servers could easily start overloading with endless browsing activity. But according to a CNET article, Skyfire resides on a platform that is ‘built to scale’, meaning Skyfire believes they can easily handle growing volumes of traffic.
The same CNET article also looks at how Skyfire plan to make money. One way will be to sell additional advertising, but as the CNET article points out, more ads on such a small screen probably isn’t such a good idea. The second way they plan to make money is by doing deals with phone carriers, but as the article explains, that’s no guaranteed way to make money and plenty of companies have died waiting for the perfect carrier deal.
But Skyfire believe their unique feature set puts them in the box seat, especially when it comes to things like proper Flash video support. Skyfire have quoted Seamus McAteer, senior analyst, M:Metrics, as saying that “Skyfire’s ability to support Flash video can give a shot in the arm to consumption of video on smartphones which currently stands at 18.4 percent. Technologies that improve the user experience of mobile applications will bolster the adoption of mobile media as it becomes increasingly mainstream.”
So what else can the Skyfire browser do? Please read onto page 3...
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Alex Zaharov-Reutt
One of Australia’s best-known technology journalists and consumer tech experts, Alex has appeared in his capacity as technology expert on all of Australia’s free-to-air and pay TV networks, including stints as presenter of Ch 10’s Internet Bright Ideas, Ch 7’s Room for Improvement and tech expert on Ch 9’s Today Show, among many other news and current affairs programs.
