They recognize that the mobile browser market is undergoing significant change and that while mobile phones were once a simple means of Internet communication they are now evolving into a full-fledged Web experience.

They believe that the open-Internet browser segment for the mobile market will grow from 76 million in 2007 to nearly 700 million browsers delivered in 2013.

This is not without restriction however, as the ABI Research team understands and has made note of the fact that despite the best efforts, web usage on mobile devices still has a ways to go in order to catch up and close the gap with PC-based browsers.

Says research director Michael Wolf:

The move towards web-based applications means browser and web services engines will become increasingly important for mobile, whether these are in a commercial browser implementation or a customized widget. Ultimately, the long-term trend away from native applications to web-based applications means browser and web services engines will be increasingly important components in the mobile environment.

There are many reasons for why the market may not make it to the predicted number of units by the year 2013, including the fact that there is an absence of important plug-ins such as Flash on many handsets.

There are also many constraints that are put on phones when compared to PC-based browsers, most which must be amended before mobiles can close the gap.

• Google and Baidu to fight over China’s mobile search market
• Opera overtakes iPhone’s Safari browser in popularity
• Samsung sold over 10 million touchscreen phones in 2008
• Opera buys AdMarvel (mobile advertising company) for $8 million
• RIM buys Iris browser developer Torch Mobile

Yes, it is a legendary Nokia 6310.

This is THE model, that in my mind is firmly associated with the idea of “business-phone” or “functional phone” (from the times since these two terms practically meant the same thing).

Nokia 6310i specs look pretty funny nowadays and does not have anything that any modern low to mid end handset “must have”. No MP3 Ringtones or memory card, no music player, no camera, no radio, no color display and many other “no’s”.

But the going price for a refurbished Nokia 6310/6310i in second hand markets or E-bay, is anywhere between 80 and 120 EUR. And it’s not that easy to get it even at that price, since the current happy owners loath giving up on their favorite handset.

A year ago I knew a small entrepreneur in both new and second hand phones, who used to do “refreshes” on the old handsets. He always had a few Nokia 6310s in a shiny new covers on hand. And he was selling them “as new”… for a whopping EUR 160.

I had a chance to watch the sales process for a while. And it was almost the same every time.

There comes a guy with a dead Nokia 6310/6310i and says, “Look, I accidentally broke/drowned/ smashed my phone. Do you have a replacement?” . And left happy with a new Nokia 6310, and less EUR160 in his pocket. Without even bothering to look at any other handset.

I’m sure the story is the same today, although I lost contact with him since then. So why does this happen? Why do people want to pay good money for a phone that has nothing?

It’s because in the end, additional functions and multiple features are not as important as vendors are trying to convince us. And because Nokia 6310 had three very important things going for it: solid design, outstanding durability and superb usability.

In the race for better specs and functions, the need to differentiate themselves from competition, and by cramming additional features, vendors tend to forget the main thing:

“YOU NEED A PHONE TO MAKE A PHONE CALLS!”

I really like my Nokia E90. It’s great for reading e-books, or replying to comments on a blog. But all the functions and benefits are rendered moot real quick, when the battery dies in the middle of the day. Or when I need to lug it around in my hands everywhere, because putting Nokia E90 Communicator into a jeans pocket is a pretty masochistic experience.

One more example. Did you ever try to make a call on your LG Prada (Samsung Armani, Apple iPhone, etc.) in winter, outside, when it’s -15° C ( 5° F) out there? If you did, you know what I mean…

More megapixels! Touchscreen displays! Optical zoom! Tell me once again, why do I need all this in my phone?

Just get me the new 6310i, please …

• Nokia wants to turn mobile phones into mobile radars
• Nokia 5800i XM shows up. Loses Wi-Fi connectivity
• New Nokia UI designs and form factors
• Control your Sony Ericsson phone with the hand gestures
• Nokia announces Nokia 6600 Slide