May 3, 2012
Samsung Internet browser launched
Samsung shipped its Internet browser on May 3, 2012 with the Galaxy S III — a WebKitApple's open-source browser engine — powers Safari and historically influenced Chrome's fork.-based mobile browser preinstalled on Samsung AndroidGoogle's open mobile operating system — the dominant platform for smartphones worldwide. devices.
What it was for
Samsung Internet became the default browser on hundreds of millions of Galaxy phones — often the first browser many AndroidGoogle's open mobile operating system — the dominant platform for smartphones worldwide. users encounter outside ChromeGoogle's web browser — built on Chromium and the most widely used browser worldwide.. It added ad blocking, extensions, and later ChromiumGoogle's open-source browser project — the foundation for Chrome, Edge, and other modern browsers. alignment while staying tied to Samsung's mobile ecosystem.
Companies
- Samsung
Why it's here
Samsung Internet is a major mobile browser by install base, not just market-share headlines.
Why it mattered
It proved OEMOriginal equipment manufacturer — a company that builds devices sold under another brand's name. browsers could compete with ChromeGoogle's web browser — built on Chromium and the most widely used browser worldwide. on AndroidGoogle's open mobile operating system — the dominant platform for smartphones worldwide. through device bundling.
What it solved
Samsung needed a controllable mobile browser integrated with Galaxy hardware and services.
Media
- ImageSamsung Browser
Samsung, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Related
- Google Chrome beta releasedSeptember 2, 2008
- Chrome for Android releasedJune 27, 2012