Smartphones are gaining increasing popularity and this translates into more and more mobile phone users opening the mobile browser to surf the internet. iCrossing released an infographic on the use of mobile browsers around the world and it appears that in  Western Europe, Apple is the leader in mobile browsers, in the UK, France and Germany covering 42%, 64% and respectively 59% of the market share, followed by Android, Blackberry and very afar by Nokia.

In developing countries from the Eastern continent, such as India and Russia and from the African continent, along with Egypt and Tunisia, Nokia is the leader by far, covering 71%, 47%, 80% and respectively 47%.  Nokia’s status indicates that it cannot compete with giants like Android and Apple in markets of developed nations.

Nokia has taken decision to address this issue and team up with Microsoft to regain its top position in the mobile market. Nokia will join forces with Microsoft to create a smartphone that will run on Microsoft Windows Phone 7 at an affordable price.  As far as mobile browsing goes, it’s a hot commodity.  Mozilla’s plans to keep its Firefox mobile browser updated  is validated with the release of the version 4 Beta for Android 2.0 and higher devices. There’s also Nokia’s Maemo running N900 in a few weeks time. Top competitor Apple is busy as well in delivering improved browsing services and recently approves of the ambitious Skyfire browser.