February 16th, 2009
MWC 09: BOLT browser moves to public beta phase
The mobile browser field is getting more and more crowded as companies look to users of the internet on the go. In looking at proxy-based browsers where all the heavy lifting is done on the server we currently have Opera Mini leading the pack with Skyfire in public beta. Today at Mobile World Congress, the BOLT browser moved into public beta. This browser was in private beta from January 15th until now and I tried it on a couple of my phones and found it to be acceptable, but not something I would choose over Opera Mini. The browser has gone through some updates though and is now available as version .86 that is significantly improved over the initial .73 build.
BOLT is developed and supported by Bitstream, who has been around for several years with its ThunderHawk browser solution. BOLT is promoted as being 25 to 50 percent faster than its competitor so I will definitely be trying it out again on my devices. BOLT is also optimized for battery life.
As stated in the press release, features of this BOLT public beta release include:
* Fast, secure, desktop-style web browsing on both high-end and low-end handsets
* Streaming flash video capabilities
* WebKit rendering engine offers high standards compliance
* Support for XML, ATOM and RDF formats of RSS feeds
* Support for JavaScript and AJAX
* Split screen and full screen modes for easy navigation and viewing
* Intuitive keystroke shortcuts for easier navigation and content selection
* 128-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption for secure access to web pages
* Server filtering to protect users from spyware and other malware
* Certificate error notification
* Easily add and select favorites and view browsing history
* Ability to clear history and cookies
BOLT is available for handsets that support Java applications, including BlackBerry and Nokia S60 devices.
Matthew Miller is an avid mobile device enthusiast who works during the day as a professional naval architect in Seattle. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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