Nokia browser cuts Internet costs for mobile phone users

Over the years, phone manufacturers have singled out the Internet browsing function as one avenue through which they can promote new models of entry-level phones in the developing market.

They have been working hard to optimise the browsing experience through progressive inclusion of better networks — starting with EDGE of the yesteryears to the current 3G. All this is done while trying to keep the handset’s price as low as possible.

Last year, Nokia developed its own browsing application – Nokia browser — as it sought to achieve two main objectives of getting online faster and cheaper.

The browser that is now found in most of its handsets, including the current Asha range being marketed locally, achieves the two goals through cloud-acceleration that is said to compress data consumption by as much as 90 per cent.

Cloud-acceleration technology is one mode of delivering web content as fast as possible by optimising the delivery path and routes taken by content from the server/cloud where it is located to the user who is either on; PC, tablet or mobile phone.

How does this technology work?

One problem that affects the speed of browsing is the fact that the data that you want to access is in a remote server located far away.

For you to retrieve this information, it has to travel a long distance from the source to your personal computer or mobile phone which often leads to a higher network latency and therefore slower performance.

“Nokia Browser helps prevent bill shock with simple tools to control your Internet data usage,” said Nokia Eastern Africa operative products and devices manager King’ori Gitahi. “Compressing of the web pages means smaller downloads, lower data charges, pages that load faster and are also easy to read on any mobile phone.”

Users can also use the data monitor to track your data consumption, adjust image quality settings so as to control how fast graphics load, and how much data they need to download.

The browser is available on the mobile firm’s high-end smartphones but is also being used as a key selling point for its range of low-cost Asha phones in emerging markets.

Nokia is luring the youth with low-cost trendy mobile phones in an attempt to capture market share from rivals Samsung and Huawei.

Findings by research firm Youth Dynamix show that Kenyans aged between 16 and 24 are constantly on their cell phones — texting and surfing the Internet — and send an average of 250 messages as texts and chat posts daily.