Mobile Web Browsers: Skyfire 1.0 for WinMo and Symbian
The developers of the mobile web browser Skyfire have announced that they reached a milestone in the development process of this software app with the release of Skyfire 1.0. By putting the Beta label behind, Skyfire, which comes free of charge and works with Windows Mobile and Symbian powered phones, is sure to draw in an even larger crowd of users. In North America for example, Skyfire was downloaded and installed by more than 1 million users, over a period of just 5 months.
Skyfire CEO, Nitin Bhandari, comments: “We were absolutely floored by the initial response to the Skyfire Beta. We knew people wanted the PC web on their phones and this was clearly confirmed in the significant user growth and engagement during our beta period. We achieved our goal of delivering both a better and faster mobile browsing experience. However, bringing it to over 1M consumers exceeded our expectations of a beta, especially since they were all acquired organically by buzz and word of mouth. As we experienced explosive growth, we also experienced significant uptake in user engagement. People were using Skyfire more often and more people were making Skyfire their default browser – for all of their mobile browsing, not just video consumption."
What news in Skyfire 1.0? Compared to Skyfire 0.9 Beta, nothing has been dramatically changed, but there are some bits and pieces you will notice. Here is a list of the new functionality you can expect to get from version 1.0:
- Enhanced navigation, zooming and interaction.
- Faster launch.
- Power optimization
- New search functionality.
- Thumbnail interaction.
- Improved page handling.
- Reconnect to last state.
- Connection helper.
- Enhanced search results.
- Improved RSS feed search, easier RSS items sharing.
- Remember last connection (Symbian only).
“Having previously delivered rich media and text readability on a small screen, the focus of this latest release was helping users get to the content they want more quickly. As the new version starts-up, users can type a search or URL in the Superbar even while Skyfire is connecting in the network. After a web page loads, smooth scrolling and zooming – similar to an iPhone – helps users navigate the page more quickly. Likewise, now users can click on links on the first page load without having to zoom first,” explains Skyfire PR Contact, Michael Selvidge.
If you would like to get Skyfire 1.0, a download location is available here.
Skyfire CEO, Nitin Bhandari, comments: “We were absolutely floored by the initial response to the Skyfire Beta. We knew people wanted the PC web on their phones and this was clearly confirmed in the significant user growth and engagement during our beta period. We achieved our goal of delivering both a better and faster mobile browsing experience. However, bringing it to over 1M consumers exceeded our expectations of a beta, especially since they were all acquired organically by buzz and word of mouth. As we experienced explosive growth, we also experienced significant uptake in user engagement. People were using Skyfire more often and more people were making Skyfire their default browser – for all of their mobile browsing, not just video consumption."
What news in Skyfire 1.0? Compared to Skyfire 0.9 Beta, nothing has been dramatically changed, but there are some bits and pieces you will notice. Here is a list of the new functionality you can expect to get from version 1.0:
- Enhanced navigation, zooming and interaction.
- Faster launch.
- Power optimization
- New search functionality.
- Thumbnail interaction.
- Improved page handling.
- Reconnect to last state.
- Connection helper.
- Enhanced search results.
- Improved RSS feed search, easier RSS items sharing.
- Remember last connection (Symbian only).
“Having previously delivered rich media and text readability on a small screen, the focus of this latest release was helping users get to the content they want more quickly. As the new version starts-up, users can type a search or URL in the Superbar even while Skyfire is connecting in the network. After a web page loads, smooth scrolling and zooming – similar to an iPhone – helps users navigate the page more quickly. Likewise, now users can click on links on the first page load without having to zoom first,” explains Skyfire PR Contact, Michael Selvidge.
If you would like to get Skyfire 1.0, a download location is available here.
