Whether it’s the iPhone, BlackBerry or an Android-based device, smartphones are all the rage in the U.S. But most of the world uses more basic mobile handsets and so-called feature phones that are less expensive.
Now recent advancements have made it possible for the types of mobile Web browsers typically seen on smartphones, to run effectively on feature phones. As CIO Update reports, as more of these devices gain mobile browsing capabilities, global enterprises have the opportunity to expand their mobile workforce and reach more customers on the go.
It won’t be too long before most mobile phones won’t have to be “smart” to offer a full Web browsing experience.
A new study by ABI Research says that by 2015 some 3.8 billion, or more than 60 percent of the installed base of mobile handsets worldwide, will include mobile browsers. The research firm estimates only about 30 percent of handsets currently offer a Web browser.