A boost for Web browsing

“ThunderHawk” may sound like the strategic name of a covert operation targeting Afghanistan, but it’s actually the name of the beta release of Bitstream’s (www.bitstream.com) new wireless Web technology.

Announced last week, ThunderHawk is a full-featured Web browser for wireless devices that will enable subscribers to have a Web-browsing experience similar to what they might get on a desktop PC.

This includes being able to view the full text and images of any Web page without excessive scrolling. By not relying on WAP or cHTML (Compact HyperText Markup Language), ThunderHawk doesn’t require Web content providers to repurpose their content or build separate Web sites for wireless and fixed Internet. Instead, it provides full Web access and functionality so users can see a wireless Web page that closely resembles a wired Web page.

“With its familiar interface and ease of use, Bitstream ThunderHawk has set a new standard for surfing the wireless Web,” said Anna Chagnon, Bitstream president.

First announced in June, ThunderHawk is Bitstream’s first wireless Web browser. By leveraging its expertise in font technology, Bitstream enables the display of full Web pages on small screens while maintaining full legibility. All pages download quickly, and the browser support features that most desktop browsers have, including frames and JavaScript.

Today, most wireless browsers either repurpose rich Web pages into text screens or show users only a tiny Web page, forcing them to scroll around a stamp-sized window. ThunderHawk, however, displays full Web pages, including all columns and links, on small color LCD screens (320 x 240) while maintaining full legibility.

This allows wireless carriers to provide real Web browsing to subscribers. PDA and wireless phone manufacturers can also integrate ThunderHawk directly into their devices, providing the same capabilities to their users.

ThunderHawk relies on a thin client and a server infrastructure. The thin client code is device independent, enabling easy porting to any wireless device. The architecture runs on any operating system, which makes implementation easy for developers.

“Since announcing this technology in June, we have received hundreds of inquiries, including strong interest from many of the predominant companies in the industry today who are either developing handheld devices or providing wireless services,” said Chagnon. “With this announcement, we have moved closer to the commercial release of the technology, as worldwide partners have started usability testing our software.”

Bitstream has filed 13 preliminary patent applications for its ThunderHawk technology. It’s working with key strategic partners in the ThunderHawk beta program, which Chagnon said will last approximately two months.

One such partner is Finland’s largest wireless carrier, Sonera (www.sonera.fi.com), which will include the beta release of Bitstream’s ThunderHawk in its pilot program. The program, which runs for approximately four months beginning Oct. 8, will take place in Finland and include 200 users. Sonera is launching the program to test user interfaces and conventions as they relate to wireless applications. With hands-on testing, Chagnon said the Sonera pilot program will pave the way for future wireless applications and help set new usability standards for wireless software and hardware.

The program, launched by the Sonera Mspace group (www.mspace.fi), offers an easy-to-use equipment solution. Users access a network with a combination of PDA and wireless phone, without a fixed-network connection. With a continuously open connection between the device and the network, users can, for example, access the Internet with a PDA wherever and whenever they want.

A selection of Web sites suitable for PDA displays, as well as a variety of tools to help with Internet surfing, are included in the solution. In addition, users will be offered new types of services and demos throughout the pilot, including news, events, entertainment and travel services.

Pekka Keskiivari, vice president, said Sonera chose ThunderHawk for the pilot program because of its ease of use and ability to bring the desktop browsing experience to the wireless Web.

"In ThunderHawk, Bitstream has adopted a novel approach in enabling existing Web content to be easily accessed and viewed from a wireless device,” he said. “Technology such as ThunderHawk will be instrumental in bridging the gap between fixed and mobile Internet."

For a side-by-side comparison of ThunderHawk to other browsers, visit (www.bitstream.com/wireless.index.html).