On a personal computer, not only can you choose from a variety of operating systems – e.g. Linux, Windows, or Mac – you can choose from a variety of browsers. From IE to Chrome, a user has a wide variety of options to fit their needs. However, with a new mob of devices coming onto the market, the browser market is becoming less open.
There is a new movement towards integrating the browser into the operating system instead of letting the browser be an open choice for each user. This was an idea that was being introduced some twenty years ago and has only recently resurfaced with the introduction of smartphones.
Some new devices do technically accommodate different browsers, especially tablets. Just in the past few days, Yahoo has introduced a new browser for Apple products. However, the vast majority of users stick to the browser that comes with their phones – though this has also historically been true with IE on Windows computers.
"Today's Web is the product of strong browser competition on performance, stability, and feature set," said Johnathan Nightingale, a director of the Firefox engineering program. "The more we live on the Web, the more essential it is that people have the ability to choose the browser that puts them in control, and answers their needs."
Hopefully, as mobile technology continues to develop, so will the browsers. In the early 2000's, very few browsers existed, and IE dominated the market; that all changed in just a few short years. The same might also prove true for mobile browsers.