Firefox Fennec Mobile Web browser
While we wait expectantly for MWC 2009, the annual mobile phone trade fest in Barcelona where the great and the good in the mobile phone world will be showing off their latest handsets, news seems to have shifted to the software part of the mobile world.

There’s a new version of Firefox that’s being developed specifically for mobile phones, and it’s now reaching a stage where it can actually be tested. Currently codenamed Fennec, Firefox Mobile, as it’ll ultimately be called, is rumoured to debut on the HTC Touch Pro.

This is annoying for three reasons. Firstly, because it’s being released on Windows Mobile first, which is possibly the worst mobile operating system on the market today; secondly, because it’s being released only on the HTC Touch Pro, which means it’s either going to be a slow process porting it to every other device on the market, or else it requires some pretty serious processing horsepower to work; and thirdly, because I have neither a Windows Mobile machine, nor a HTC Touch Pro, so I won’t be able to give it a go. Bugger!

Fennec isn’t the only new browser in town though…

A new Android browser joins the show

[http://images.intomobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/opera-mini-android-1.png
More browser news comes our way in the shape of a new version of Opera's ubiquitous Opera Mini, which has been specifically developed for the Android platform. This is tough play for the Opera team.

The whole point of Android is mobile Web connectivity, and the T-Mobile G1 already comes with a Google-enhanced version of the superb WebKit mobile browser. Quite how Opera Mini will be able to challenge Android's native browser is anyone's guess, as Opera Mini is a cut down version of the standard Opera Mobile browser.

Cupcake: Android 2.0


Finally, we have news of a new version of Android - or, more specifically, a branch of the existing Android platform that's inexplicably codenamed Cupcake.

Cupcake enhances Android by offering a virtual keyboard, enhanced animation and transition effects, and better visuals. T-Mobile are remaining tight-lipped about whether it'll be offered as an updated firmware release to the T-Mobile G1, or even whether or not it's part of an official release that will ever see the light of day. We can but hope, though, as a virtual keyboard would seem something of a necessity of Android's going to challenge the iPhone long-term.

It's all MWC's fault

Of course, all this rumour mongering and hasty software releasing is the fault of the Mobile World Congress (MWC). Most of the manufacturers are keeping a lid on their latest handsets, as they want to keep their powder dry and launch them in a blaze of glory in just a few short weeks' time.

The only people left with any news, therefore, are the mobile software developers, who are rushing out their latest releases now, as they know anything they release in February is going to be overshadowed by the big announcements that will be made on February 15th.

[Source: WMExperts, IntoMobile, TalkAndroid, Engadget]