Skyfire axes Symbian and Win Mobile for modern app

Skyfire has quietly said it was dropping Symbian and Windows Mobile support for its browser. The two would phase out at the end of 2010 and would only see the more advanced Android and iOS 2.0 versions available in the near future. Both being initially free made them unsustainable, but the age of the apps and problems with the platforms themselves made it unrealistic to charge a device for a product that would be dropped earlier, Skyfire said.

The web browser company blamed both technology and the state of copy protection on the older platforms for the shift. They typically lack proper support for HTML5, full-screen video and other features Skyfire's signature Flash conversion technique needs, the company said. Both also have poor copy protection and have seen rampant piracy.

Skyfire began enjoying wider success with its Android version but only saw more significant success with the iPhone version, which made $1 million in a week and was the only version to strain the company's servers. Apple's decision against incorporating Flash was a major factor, but the popularity and feature support of iOS helped play a role.

An iPad version is already in the works, but other platforms are still to be determined. The firm is considering developing for BlackBerry 6, MeeGo and Windows Phone 7 but so far has only been targeting the more established platforms.

By Electronista Staff