Previous news came with the pre-alpha version of mobile browser Fennec appearing. Now it is time for the BETA version to get a run around the ball park.

The mobile browser was previously branded with the name Firefox although is now known as Fennec. The application utilizes Mozilla’s new JavaScript engine, Trace Monkey and plug-ins that would allow you to watch videos directly on websites. The only bad news is that the beta release is only working with the Maemo platform, used by the N810 Internet Tablet.

Experimentation with Fennec is available across platforms, with more information available through the release notes (see below). While reading through the release notes:

This is the twelfth development milestone and the first beta release of the mobile version of Firefox, for testing purposes only, intended to:

• get wider feedback on our approach to the user experience
• engage Mozilla community teams, including localizers, and testers
• get feedback from Web developers
• encourage add-on developers to port existing add-ons and invent new ones for mobile

The initial focus of Fennec development was on building a new user experience that reflects Firefox’s design principles, adding touch screen support and other interactions appropriate for mobile phones and other handheld devices, while preserving leading features like the Smart URL Bar (”awesome bar”) and support for add-ons.

Installation and all required information is now online. The team would love your feedback!

[via phoneArena, Fennec M12]