-Alternative Needed To Mobile Internet Browser: Not a shocker: the web browser that works so well on a PC may not be the best tool for accessing information quickly on the mobile internet, according to a report from Jupiter Research (via release). The study, “Mobile Internet: Leave the Browser at Home on the Desktop,” found that while a majority of cell phone customers actually had access to high speed data networks, over two-thirds of them are not actually surfing the mobile web. But Jupiter took it to mean that the 37 percent that did access the internet through their phone, was a clear indication that cell phone users want more from their handsets than just voice services. Jupiter said that while they weren’t “advocating the browser go away,” the industry could double or triple current adoption levels and drive up usage if users were presented with better user interfaces and more “compelling experiences.” Jupiter Research President David Schatsky suggested widgets or applets as browser alternatives—“mini applications that allow for content to be easily accessed from a home screen or with just a few clicks, can meet consumer demands for quick access to information.”

iPhone Browser Use Surpasses Windows Mobile: Apple’s iPhone browser has surpassed Microsoft’s mobile browser user share, according to a quarterly report from Net Applications. The study is not a measure of units sold nor of browsers used, but the share of users browsing the internet on a particular operating system. Of those surfing the internet, 0.09 percent are doing it through their iPhone browser, compared with 0.06 percent surfing through their Windows Mobile browser. Computerworld calls iPhone’s stats “amazing”, especially when you consider that it was gained in the 5 months that the iPhone has been on sale, compared to the ten years that Windows CE products have been on sale with over 20 million units sold. [James] Since there’s no mention of Symbian on the list I suspect this is US-centric.

-Opera Mini BREW Version Launched: Opera Software (OSL: OPERA) announced that its Opera Mini browser is now available on phones enabled with Qualcomm’s (NSDQ: QCOM) BREW platform. Technically, this makes it compatible with Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and those subscribers with a BREW phone. But apparently unless Verizon decides to make it available through its Get it Now Brew applications catalog, subscribers can’t actually get it on their phones (via Informationweek).