Bitstream Inc. has announced that it will begin conducting field trials with mobile operators and device manufacturers interested in the company's ThunderHawk Java Edition mobile browser. Bitstream is demonstrating ThunderHawk Java Edition in booth #612 at CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2006, running through September 14.

Mobile operators have a mandate to increase ARPU in the data services market while also offering subscribers cutting edge applications. One issue is how to effectively display news, commerce, entertainment and other information on a mobile device, since subscribers won't spend much time browsing if they feel they are getting a limited version of the Internet.

Unlike other mobile browsers that typically repurpose, reformat or remove content so it will fit on small screen devices, ThunderHawk displays full HTML pages for a superior desktop browsing experience on both mass-market Java phones and higher-end devices.

ThunderHawk Java Edition for mobile browser offers operators:
-- Multiple mobile platforms. Covers a vast range of mobile devices that support MIDP 2, including Windows Mobile and Symbian devices, as well as mass-market Java phones that would typically not have enough memory to run a full HTML browser.
-- Under 100 KB footprint. Removes complexity from the mobile device for full HTML browsing capabilities.
-- Compact transport format. The scalable server end provides a high degree of Web standards compliance. Data is transmitted to the mobile phone in a compressed transport format, resulting in the fast download and display of Website content.
-- The best mobile browsing experience available.

Website content looks just as it does on the desktop. As a result, mobile operators will increase ARPU and device manufacturers will attract mobile operators and consumers.
Bitstream also announced that ThunderHawk Java Edition for mobile operators will support select BlackBerry devices from the 7100 Series and 8700 Series, as well as other popular models.

"We are pleased to offer mobile operators and their subscribers a superior browsing solution for popular BlackBerry devices and Java phones, in addition to the other platforms ThunderHawk supports," said Anna Chagnon, President & CEO of Bitstream Inc. "With full HTML pages and fast download and display of Website content, subscribers using ThunderHawk will feel like their mobile device is truly an extension of the desktop. As a result, mobile operators can attract subscribers with the 'real' Internet and increase ARPU in the process."