ibisBrowser

ibisBrowser is a web browser which is designed for mobile phones. It is a client–server application that has been developed in 2005 by ibis inc., a Japanese company. The first version of the browser, developed in Java (MIDP 2.0) and run on a Java enabled Mobile Phone. Currently, two different versions of ibisBrowser can be found based on the features present on the browsers, these are: ibisBrowserLT and ibisBrowserDX. ibisBorwserLT is a lightweight, in other words, light-featured browser. On the other hand, ibisBrowserDX has more functionality than ibisBrowserLT.

Currently, ibisBrowserLT/ibisBrowserDX is offered for NTT DoCoMo FOMA as i-mode Java application, for au the open application version of ibisBrowserDX, and Java edition for corresponding Willcom model version equipped with Java application. Since ibisBrowser performs a very fast searching method to retrieve a webpage, which then fits the page on a tiny Mobile Phone screen very accurately it is very popular among the Japanese Mobile Phone users. Recently, ibis inc. has released ibisBrowserDX [1] for Windows Mobile Phones for using inside Japan and abroad. The basic difference from the ibisBrowserDX of Java edition[2] is that the ibisBrowserDX for Windows Mobile edition is developed in C++.

History

The very first ibisBrowser has been developed in June 2005.[3] It was a beta version and was free of charge. The version was made focusing NTT DoCoMo FOMA70Xi and FOMA90Xi Mobile Phone series in Japan. The free offer has been ended along with the release of a light version of ibisBrowser called ibisBrowserLT in the beginning of August, 2005. ibisBrowserLT has less functionality and mainly developed for the FOMA70Xi series that are capable of executing smaller applications. In November 2005,[4] a high-speed and high-performance version of ibisBrowser with rich functionality called ibisBrowserDX is released. Presently, another version of ibisBrowser named ibisBrowserNB is available. This is a test version of ibisBrowserDX that has more functionality but is less stable than ibisBrowserDX.

An international version of the ibisBrowserDX has become available in July 2007[5] [6] . This is a technology preview version which can be downloaded and used for free of charge with a limitation of browsing at most 5 pages per day. To cope with the current trend, in October 2007, ibisBrowserDX for Windows Mobile Standard edition has been developed. Following that, in November 2007, ibisBrowserDX for Windows Mobile Professional edition has been released. Recently, in January 2008,[7] international versions of ibisBrowserDX for Windows Mobile Professional and Standard editions have become publicly available. These are technology preview versions and can be downloaded for free of charge though, a user is allowed to browse at most 5 pages per day.

Functionality

ibisBrowser is a client–server application. Unlike the ordinary web browsers, ibisBrowser fetches all content through its servers. When a user browses the web using ibisBrowser, the request is sent to one of the ibis inc.'s servers via the radio wave and HTTP communications. The server then retrieves the web page, reformates it, and sends it back to the user's mobile phone.

ibisBrowserDX of Java Edition

ibisBrowserDX

The size of the application is 100KB. It is possible to use ibisBrowserDX with mega i-mode application program, 500-KB application program, and 300-KB application program corresponding models. The corresponding models are 90Xi series, 704i series, 703i series and F702iD, M702iG, M702iS. Moreover, the pay users of ibisBrowserDX can use ibisBrowserNB version without paying any additional charge. Until March 2007, ibisBrowserDX worked only on NTT DoCoMo FOMA devices. After the development of Open Application Program Player by which the execution of Java application became possible to install in the au terminal. Thus ibisBrowserDX for au has been released on March 2007.

On June 2007, a WILLCOM version of ibisBrowserDX is developed where the input to the terminal from a keyboard was possible. Thus a person who is not even good at operating a Mobile Phone can use it like a PC. It is a pay version. Before using the pay version one can use ibisBrowserDX for free with a limitation of browsing at most 5 pages per day.

ibisBrowserLT

ibisBrowserLT is lighter than ibisBrowserDX and doesn't have some functionality that are present in ibisBrowserDX. The size of the application is only 30KB. It is mainly developed for FOMA70Xi series that are capable of executing smaller applications. The free version of ibisBrowserLT allows to browse up to 5 pages per day, on the other hand in a pay version one can get unlimited access.

Features

ibisBrowser performs a high-speed communication, high-speed vertical and horizontal scrolling, high-speed switching views between Mobile View and PC View, and high-speed zooming. It supports HTTP cookie, QR code, Screenshot and tabbed browsing (up to 15 tabs). Moreover, CSS is used in reproducing a web page. A secure communication is maintained between the ibisBrowser server and the target web site. It is possible to customize the settings of the font size, cursor speed, shortcut keys, home URL, URL used in "Quick Search", a shortcut way to search, etc.

In ibisBrowserDX, switching between tabs and communication with a Barcode reader are possible. It also supports GPS function. This version of ibisBrowser is available in both Japanese and English languages. On the other hand, ibisBrowserLT doesn't have the GPS function, shortcut key and tab switching facilities.

Presently, ibisBrowser doesn't support JavaScript, Flash, Movie Pictures, AJAX though, the Movie Pictures support is under development.

ibisBrowserDX for Windows Mobile

ibisBrowserDX for Windows Mobile is developed in C++. The ibisBrowserDX for Windows Mobile can display a requested web page faster than the ibisBrowserDX for Java edition. Currently, there are two versions of ibisBrowserDX are in use: ibisBrowserDX for Windows Mobile Standard Edition and ibisBrowserDX for Windows Mobile Professional Edition.

ibisBrowserDX for Windows Mobile corresponds to the following OS:

Features

ibisBrowserDX for Windows Mobile has all features that are present in ibisBrowserDX for Java edition except for it doesn't support GPS and QR Code. But it has multi-language and download file supports. The language includes Japanese, English, and Russian. Currently, it doesn't support Flash and JavaScript Technology.

Support Information

The int'l version of ibisBrowserDX for Java edition supports the following mobile phone models:[8]

On the other hand, the int'l version of ibisBrowserDX for Windows Mobile supports:[9]

However, many other mobile phones that are not in the list may run ibisBrowser successfully.

The technology preview versions of ibisBrowserDX for both Java and Windows Mobile Editions can be downloaded from the download page provided below. For the users of ibisBrowser there is a Wiki Entry (visit the Support page) where bugs or errors for both Java and Windows Mobile editions are received from the users and solved them in real time.

References

  1. ↑ "Msmobiles". msmobiles.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  2. ↑ "JavaScriptSearch". JavaScriptSearch. 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
  3. ↑ "3Yen.com". 3Yen.com, Japan. 2005. Retrieved 2005-06-22.
  4. ↑ "Affiliated Organization of Ibis inc.". Ibis inc., Japan. 2005. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  5. ↑ "Lendersoft.com". Lendersoft. 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
  6. ↑ "Asian digital media news". DigitalMediaAsia. 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  7. ↑ "TechConnect Magazine". TechConnect Magazine. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  8. ↑ published on "Affiliated Organization of Ibis inc." Check |url= value (help). Ibis inc., Japan. 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  9. ↑ published on "Affiliated Organization of Ibis inc." Check |url= value (help). Ibis inc., Japan. 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
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