Skyfire Labs, the company behind Skyfire mobile browser for Android and iOS platforms, has raised $8 million in its Series C financing from Verizon Investments and others. Skyfire will use this fund to meet the demands of its growing list of wireless operator customers through increased engineering, sales and support resources, and expanding into European and Asian markets.

Skyfire offers free mobile browsers for Android & iOS devices and premium services around them. Skyfire products have been downloaded for more than 12 million times. Skyfire’s Rocket Optimizer, video optimization engine, saves up to 60% video bandwidth for the consumers. The Rocket Optimizer is available in Android market as “Skyfire Video License Key” for $2.99.

This $8 million funding is invested by Verizon Investments (subsidiary of Verizon Communications), Matrix Partners, Trinity Ventures, and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Along with this round of funding, Skyfire has also managed partners for Rocket Optimizer and Rocket Toolbar. “Skyfire also offers the Rocket Toolbar product line, a fully customizable web-based operator portal embedded in the default browser of new smartphones. The Rocket Toolbar has been selected by a tier one North American carrier for upcoming deployment, and is in numerous trials across the US and Europe”, says Skyfire.