Bitstream Previews ThunderHawk Java/J2ME Mobile Browser

Bitstream Inc. is showing the company's ThunderHawk Java/J2ME mobile browser, which brings a real desktop browsing experience to mass-market mobile phones that would typically not have enough memory to run a full HTML browser.

ThunderHawk Java/J2ME Edition displays full HTML Web pages just as they would appear on the desktop for a superior user experience. The software is based on the company's client/server technology, and is compatible with a range of mobile phones, from mass-market to higher end phones.

With under 100KB (kilobytes) footprint, the software removes complexity from the mobile device for full HTML browsing on mass market mobile phones that would typically not have enough memory to run a browser on the device.

"Industry research cites that one of the main reasons mobile browsing has yet to take off on a large scale is because subscribers find that current offerings still don't feel like the 'real' Internet," said Anna Chagnon, President & CEO of Bitstream Inc. "If a browser reformats, repurposes or in some cases, even removes content, or the experience is slow or otherwise cumbersome, subscribers will spend less time browsing, if at all. In contrast, ThunderHawk Java/J2ME offers a small footprint and full HTML and open standards support, so mobile subscribers feel like their phone is truly an extension of the desktop," said Chagnon. "As a result, mobile operators can increase ARPU, while device manufacturers and content providers have another way to attract consumers to their offerings."