Blackberry, Webkit based WinCE browser and alternate to IE

When RIM acquired Torch Mobile, it got access to Torch Mobiles IRIS browser technology that ran on Win CE. While it is left to our imagination what Blackberry plans on doing with IRIS, speculation is that they’ll use the technolog to develop their own Webkit based browser for Blackberry. I don’t know how Blackberry OS compares to Linux or WinCE, and how much effort is required to port Webkit engine to Blackberry but RIM certainly had eyes on Webkit browser (and possible Flash port that Torch Mobile offered).

But what about the Windows CE users that were planning on using IRIS? Via WMExpert, I found that their spokesman has confirmed that Torch Mobile will cease development of Windows CE Webkit browser altogether. Now there are even fewer alternatives to IE on WinCE. Webkit based browser generally renders much faster than IE and several people could have used that with Core WinCE license which is much cheaper than professional WinCE. There aren’t that many choices now for people wanting to use WinCE with browser other than IE. Sure there is Access Netfront and Opera, but both are proprietary. Others like MiniMo have fallen far behind todays requirements.

It will be good to see some new company start to offer an open source browser (that works) on WinCE. May be there are good alternatives out there- if so I’d like to know.