• Ars Technica, Tuesday, October 7, 2008 11:45 AM

Microsoft's Internet browsers take a lot of heat from Web developers. Internet Explorer--pick your version; it doesn't matter--already serves as shorthand for buggy, obsolete application, and the newest edition, still in beta, doesn't look to be much better. But its desktop versions are still light years ahead of Microsoft's attempts at a mobile browser.

Internet Explorer Mobile is a throwback to early versions of the desktop browser, though with its own set of bugs and antiquated ideas of what a Web page should look like, writes Peter Bright. Overall, Microsoft makes mobile browsing an unpleasant experience, with pages that won't load properly and poor scripting support.

Eighteen months ago Microsoft could have gotten away with this, but with the rise of smart phones and better mobile browsers, it's time for the software giant to step up to the plate. The iPhone should have spurred Microsoft into action, but it doesn't seem to have happened yet, what with the latest delays for its new mobile browser. When will the memo make its way to Redmond?

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