Apple has quietly begun approving third-party mobile web browsing applications for the iPhone, introducing a series of new browser apps via the App Store virtual storefront. Browser applications previously fell under the "duplication of functionality" restrictions cited as Apple's rationale for blocking certain iPhone downloads--while the move does signal some new leniency in App Store approval policies, it should be noted that the new applications are all based on the iPhone's existing Safari browser technology, meaning it's still unlikely that rival browsing engines like Opera Mobile or Firefox will earn Apple's thumbs-up anytime soon.
According to MacRumors, the submission dates on the new browser apps originate as far back as October 2008, with the flood of approvals suggesting that there were a significant number of browsers receiving consent in one fell swoop, similar to how Apple endorsed other new categories of iPhone applications. Some of the new browsers include Edge Browser, which promises no loss of screen real estate to the address or navigation bars; Incognito, which enables history-free web browsing; WebMate:Tabbed Browser, which queues up all the links a user clicks on, then lists them for viewing one-by-one; and Shaking Web, which includes an algorithm to compensate for hand-shaking.
For more on the new iPhone browsers:
- read this MacRumors article [1]
Related articles:
Apple sued over iPhone [2] web browser
AT&T: 95% of iPhone [3] owners surf the mobile web
Links:
[1] http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/13/apple-allows-3rd-party-web-browsers-in-app-store/
[2] http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/apple-sued-over-iphone-web-browser/2008-11-25
[3] http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/att-95-of-iphone-owners-surf-the-mobile-web/2008-02-14