Are you a Firefox user who is looking for an alternative browser for your smartphone? Although there currently (as of April of 2012) aren't versions for BlackBerry, Windows Mobile or HP WebOS, there are downloads for Android and iOS devices. Both products are free and can be downloaded directly over your phone's cellular Internet or Wi-Fi connection.
Downloading Firefox Mobile for Android
The Android version is a fully featured mobile browser that supports add-ons, themes, syncing and tabs like the desktop version, and it is compatible with a variety of phones and tablets. Do the following to download the app from the Google Play Store (called Android Market on older versions of the OS):
- Tap the Android Market or Google Play Store icon on your device's apps list.
- Tap the magnifying glass icon and type "Firefox".
- Tap Firefox's name when it appears in the results list.
- Tap "Download" and then "Accept & Download" to download and install Firefox
Downloading Firefox Home for iPhone
Firefox's product for the iPhone is different in that it is not actually a browser. Instead, it lets you sync your desktop Firefox's open tabs, bookmarks and browsing history so you can view pages in Safari with a single tap. You can easily download this app from your iPod or iPhone's App Store by doing the following:
- Tap the App Store icon on your iPod or iPhone's Home screen.
- Tap the search box at the top and type "Firefox Home".
- Tap "Firefox Home" when it appears in the search results to visit the app's page.
- Tap the blue "Free" button and then "Install App".
- Confirm your Apple account password when prompted and then tap "OK" to download and install the app.
Getting Future Updates
Mobile Firefox is still a work in progress, and Mozilla regularly issues updates to add new features or fix bugs in its mobile apps. You can get available updates for Firefox Home by visiting the Updates tab in your iOS device's App Store. Android users receive notifications when new updates for installed apps are available, so you can simply approve the update when you receive a notification. If your phone platform isn't yet supported, keep an eye out on the Firefox Mobile page to find out when or if a version will become available for your device.
