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Description

Web browsers are programs that “read” hypertext and display it as formatted text and images. Browsers allow users to view the contents of a site and navigate from one site to another. Increasingly, these browsers also employee scripting to create full-featured, dynamic, and interactive web applications. Web browsers have become the dominant user interface today.
Mobile client web browsers are browsers embedded in or downloaded to cell phones or smart phones. Intranet/Employee mobile client web browsers are used by NIH employees and contractors to access government resources on the NIH intranet or to access web-based, mobile applications. 
 
Because NIH has significant control over what mobile device and browser NIH end users will use, NIH can limit the variety of browsers within the enterprise to help reduce desktop support, help desk, development, and quality assurance costs.

Tactical

(0-2 years)

 

  • BlackBerry Browser v5 and newer
  • Safari (for iPad and iPhone)

Strategic

(2-5 years)

 

  • BlackBerry Browser v6 and newer
  • Safari (for iPad, iPhone, and iPod)

Retirement

(To be eliminated)

  • ​None

Containment

(No new development

  • ​Blackberry v4 and older

Baseline

(Today)

  • ​Blackberry Browser v3 - v7
  • Safari (for iPad and iPhone)

Emerging

(To track)

  • Android Browser (for Android devices)
  • Blackberry Tablet Browser
  • eReader Browsers (such as Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook)
  • Other Smart Phone Browsers
  • Other Tablet Browsers

Comments

  • Tactical and Strategic products were selected to leverage NIH's investment in products that are a proven fit for NIH's known needs. Leveraging baseline products in the future will minimize the operations, maintenance, support and training costs for new products.
  • Some baseline products have been designated as Containment. These products are either not as widely or successfully deployed at NIH, or they do not provide as much functionality, value, or Total Cost of Ownership as low as the selected Tactical and Strategic products.
  • IT support staff and development teams should consult NIH’s Mobile Device Policy for appropriate use of mobile devices within the NIH network, including standards for encryption, passwords, restrictions on use of sensitive data, prohibition against personal mobile devices, etc.
  • Given the fragmentation of the mobile market, developers and software testers should be equipped with tools that support mobile, multi-platform testing. These tools are often integrated with collaborative software development environments.
  • The Apple O/S (Safari browser), Android O/S (Android browser), and many other mobile browsers are based on the WebKit open standard for browser rendering engines. Therefore, testing in one should ensure compatibility in the other. This fact has enabled some ICs to reduce their development and testing costs.

Time Table

This architecture definition approved on: September 27, 2011

The next review is scheduled in: TBD