Opera Mini to be shown on iPhone at MWC

Richard Goodwin

Opera Mini is due to make an appearance on the iPhone at this year’s Mobile World Congress. That said, the app itself has still yet to pass Apple’s hardcore vetting process.

Until now, Apple has been very strict with what browsers its users’ can actually use, which has meant users are stuck with a choice of Safari, Safari, or Safari. However, it’s looking very likely that Opera Mini will be the first external browser to break this trend.

TechRadar has Jon von Tetzchner, Co-founder of Opera Software, as saying:

“We are thrilled to offer journalists and partners an exclusive preview of Opera Mini for iPhone during the year's biggest mobile event.”

He added: “This is a unique opportunity to introduce the fast, feature-rich Opera Mini experience for the iPhone, and to showcase our latest beta releases of Opera Mobile and Opera Mini on other platforms and devices.”

Opera Mini is already an extremely popular browser on both Android, Symbian and Microsoft’s Mobile platforms. However, a release on the iPhone could mean some stiff competition for Apple’s onboard, and arguably adequate, browser, Safari.

"Opera's mission is to bring the Web to the world, and by making Opera Mini available on yet another platform, we are one step closer," said Von Tetzchner.

At present, Opera Mobile 10 beta is up-and-running on the Android platform and Opera Mobile 10 beta 3 is rocking on Symbian S60 and Microsoft’s Windows Mobile Platform.

Will Opera make an appearance on the iPhone? Well, it will at Mobile World Congress, but will it eventually be available for you and me? Watch this space.

Do you want more choice in web browsers for your iPhone? Tell us what you think in the comments below.