3 Reasons RIM's WebKit Browser Changes The Smartphone Game
The announcement, which came at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, could be a turning point in RIM's bid to slow market share gains from Apple, which created a new class of Web browsing-capable phones referred to as smartphones.
RIM co-Chief Executive Officer Mike Lazaridis said RIM's new WebKit-based browser is designed to make browsing the Web from a smartphone much faster and easier.
In a dig at rival Apple, Lazardis said what matters is not the amount of Apps available on a particular device but the quality of the Apps, thus what RIM is calling SuperApps.
The new Webkit browser, which at this point has no scheduled formal release date, is seen as the next phase in RIM's bid to transform its wildly popular Blackberry into a more robust Web-based applications platform similar to the Apple iPhone.
RIM also unveiled a new, free version of its BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express that synchronizes BlackBerry smartphones with Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Windows Small Business Server. Here are three reasons RIM's new Webkit browser changes the smartphone game.
1. The RIM WebKit Browser Paves The Way For Smartphone SuperApps
This is not just hype. RIM has always had the engineering smarts to produce what is still the most reliable, scalable, open and widely used of all the smartphone devices. And also the most business savvy smartphone with ties to the Big Daddy of network e-mail servers: Microsoft Exchange. Now RIM is focusing all of its engineering might and majesty on delivering a new class of web Apps.
Remember Lazardis and company designed the Blackberry as the all-out best -- bar none -- phone and e-mail device. Web browsing was simply not part of the equation. This is the first time that Lazardis and the RIM engineers are working to make the Blackberry the all-out best -- bar none- Web applications platform.
In his Mobile World Congress keynote, Lazardis pointed to these new SuperApps as contextually aware, integrated applications. That means, as Lazardis demonstrated, the ability to view and send Twitter tweets directly from the Blackberry in-box. Or for an eBay application to automatically synch with the Blackberry calendar so eBay fanatics can make sure they don't miss the deadline for last minute bids. Finally, how about an application that seamlessly transmits music from a Blackberry device from a Bluetooth connection to an automobile sound system and then automatically stops for an incoming phone call.
Think of the power and flexibility when you have SuperApps that are seamless and contextually aware. That is something Apple can not provide because of its tight control of the platform closing out all those that do not play by Apple's rigid rules. Think of the Apple iPhone as the closed internet applet smartphone. Think of RIM Blackberry as the open SuperApp smartphone.
2. The RIM WebKit Browser Is A More Open And Efficient Telecom Carrier Platform
Lazardis boasted in his Mobile World Congress keynote that telecom carriers can support three Blackberry browsing sessions for every single session on other devices. That's because, he said, the Blackberry is much more network efficient and more finely tuned than competing smartphone browsers. The new RIM WebKit browser scores 100 percent -- that's right 100 percent -- on the Acid 3 test for rendering the Web. For those not familiar with Acid 3, it is a Web Standards Project measure for web browsing. Think of it as the Gold Standard for web browsing.
3. The RIM WebKit Browser Is A Better Browser For Bridging the Business/Consumer Gap
Much has been made of the Apple iPhone's consumer appeal. But that is also the Apple iPhone's Achilles heel. The iPhone is notorious for dropping calls because of the exclusive US carrier status that Apple bestowed on AT&T.
Now for the first time, RIM is stepping up to the plate with a platform that can truly bridge the gap between the business and consumer worlds. With the WebKit browser, there is the opportunity for the first time to have a smartphone that is both business and socially aware. There is a reason that Lazardis showed off the Twitter capabilities of the WebKit browser. RIM is focused on finally delivering to the market a scalable, reliable and open smartphone for both pleasure and business.
The sooner the WebKit browser is available, the sooner Apple will start to see its big smartphone market share gains dwindle. Eat your heart out Steve Jobs. The new RIM WebKit browser and Blackberry SuperApps are about to eat your lunch.