Let's face it, Web browsing on mobile devices, especially cell phones and smartphones is often challenging at best. Bitstream's believes it has a solution with the beta release of a new Web browser for Microsoft-based smartphones, Thunderhawk SmartPhone Edition.

As with the Pocket PC Phone version, the SmartPhone Edition of ThunderHawk enables a device's small color screen, 176x220 in the case of smartphones, to display an 800x946-pixel Web page. It is unique because it preserves a Web page's layout, allowing users to read a column of text without forcing them to scroll left and right as they read each line.


Full Screen Mode

A Split screen mode lets users skim information and quickly find their orientation on a Web page. The upper half of the split screen shows the entire page, while the lower half displays the selected area at full size. Full screen mode displays a section of the page at full size.

The browser suppots open HTML standards, including CSS and DHTML, and security protocols, such as SSL and 128-bit encryption. ThunderHawk relies on a server infrastructure combined with a small piece of thin-client code on the actual handheld device. The server infrastructure removes complexity from the handheld devices. It also transmits Web content in a more compact format to the handheld device.


Split Screen Mode

Bitstream claims mobile operators can use ThunderHawk SmartPhone Edition to set themselves apart. Anna Chagnon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bitstream, said "wireless carriers now have a solution to differentiate themselves from other operators who deliver only a limited number of specialized, streamlined Web pages or applications."

In related news, last week, reseller Wireless Devices announced plans to have its sales force of 400 to begin working with U.S. companies to license ThunderHawk for corporate and carrier use.