Mobile browser based on Microsoft tech makes its beta debut

Zumobi, a mobile browser based on technology developed by Microsoft Research, is now available in beta form.

Zumobi -- a startup formerly known as ZenZui, which is headed by of a number of former Microsoft employees -- released on December 14 a beta of its Zooming User Interface and mobile-widget platform. Zumobi's product is based on mobile-browsing technology developed by Microsoft Research and licensed to the company from Microsoft's IP Ventures unit.

(IP Ventures licenses Microsoft-developed technologies to other companies so that they can commercialize them. Skinkers, Wallop and other companies have built products on top of Microsoft-developed IP via this program.)

Zumobi is working with a variety of partners, ranging from Amazon.com, to MTV Networks, who are developing widgets, or "Tiles," with which consumers can access on their mobile phones and other devices.  The Zumobi interface does not allow users to browse the entire Web; it lets them browse via the tiles only.

The Zumobi interface works on Windows Mobile 5 and 6 devices, the iPhone, Blackberry and other mobile platforms. The Zumobi beta is currently for U.S.-based customers only and can be downloaded from Zumobi's site.