Platform for iphone development

Apple released their Safari browsers for Windows computers and boldly announced that it was to effectively be the best browser for Windows.  However, with the slew of security issues that were announced by independent browser security testers, the Safari beta release looked much more like that of an alpha release.  In fact, more than one tester cited the Firefox 3 alpha release to be much more secure, robust, and functional than the Safari beta release.

Many seem to think that Apple is encroaching on Windows territory once again with their Safari browser in much the same way that they successfully did before with iTunes.  With the immense popularity of the iPod since 2001, Apple’s associated iTunes software is a very popular download for Windows users as well as Mac users.  So much so, in fact, that many Windows users do not even use the Windows Media Player that comes bundled on the operating system.  However, that may not be all that Steve Jobs hasp planned.

The iPhone that is to be released on June 29^th has garnered a great deal of buzz on- and offline because of it’s unique design and capabilities.  However, one of its most crippling drawbacks will be its inability to sync with Microsoft Outlook, by far the most popular email and calendar client on the market, which is due in no small part to being a part of Windows’ Office package of software.

It is speculated that Apple is much more concerned about the potential success of the iPhone when they released the Safari browser on Windows.  The iPhone comes with a fully-functional copy of Safari installed and it is no secret that the browser differs greatly from Internet Explorer.  Releasing the browser on Windows was a good idea for Apple, as iPhone buyers that are Windows users may begin to like the browser on their phone and prefer to use it on their Windows installations as well, increasing Apple’s browser’s market share from the dominating Windows and the much more robust, innovative, and secure Firefox 2. 

However, familiarizing Windows users with the Safari browser and the iPhone may also work to draw developers that are more traditionally associated with Windows applications into working for the Apple side of things as well.  It is pure speculation as to whether this is Steve Jobs’ master plan or not but if it is, it’s just crazy enough to work.

Currently, Internet Explorer has 78% of the browser market share, followed by Firefox with 15% and Safari with just 5%.