Firefox on Windows Mobile - Using Fennec
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Mozilla plans to make Fennec available on Windows mobile and Symbian smart phones by the end of 2009. As of the summer of 2009, licensing and/or technical issues are making it much harder to pin down a time frame for the availability of Fennec on BlackBerry, Android and iPhone mobile devices. For others, however, Fennec is in the works and will soon be up and running for those who could potentially benefit from this mobile Web browser. Fennec will be a full-service browser for the Web, but it’s designed to work for different types of mobile devices. This browser could potentially become available for all smart phones.
For those who currently own a Nokia N810, it’s possible to get a taste of Firefox’s Fennec right this moment, even though it hasn’t been widely released for public use. Currently in beta testing, Fennec is yours to try out if you like -- and, if you can figure out how to go about doing so. Start by sitting down with your Nokia phone, and go to the download page for this under-testing version of Firefox on the mobile Web.
The step by step instructions (found online with your regular Web browser at https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Fennec/Releases) can guide you through the process of placing this browser on your Nokia mobile device. Following these directions, you can actually download the software straight to your phone and start exploring everything Fennec can do right away.
First, go to your Settings menu and find the Application Manager option. Under Tools, choose the Application catalog option. You’ll have to add Fennec to the list of applications before you can begin to take advantage of this beta version. To do this, choose the New option you see near the bottom of the screen.
Enter the information exactly as you see it pictured above, and hit OK. The catalog name is Mozilla, the Web address is ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mobile. Enter Chinook under Distribution and release next to Components. With everything entered into the phone, you can close the catalog now that all the data is in place. From the main Application Manager, select Browse installable applications to find the software. Now, you should see Fennec listed in your search results. Simply install the application and you’re ready to start cruising the mobile Web with Mozilla. You’ll find Fennec under the Extras menu on your phone.
It’s just that easy to test out this mobile Web browser for yourself (easy if you have the right phone, of course). But for those who want to wait for the full version -- or who have to wait for it -- you can still find out what Fennec’s got in store for you. Remember, this browser won’t be in the testing phase forever; soon, you’ll be able to try it out even if you don’t currently own a Nokia phone.
Next: Fennec Features >>
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