Apple approves Opera Mini browser for iPhone

Paul Nesbitt

Opera Software has announced that its mobile browser, Opera Mini has been approved by Apple for the iPhone App Store.

It's the first time that Apple has approved a third party web browser for the iPhone and Apple's decision to approve Opera Mini as an alternative to Safari surprised some industry insiders, and maybe even Opera Software itself.

Last month when it submitted Opera Mini, Opera posted a countup clock on its website displaying the time that had elapsed since it submitted its Opera Mini browser to Apple for approval. It was a stunt with a serious point.

Apple has been widely criticised for the length of time it takes to approve certain iPhone apps for the App Store, as well for its controversial decisions not to approve third party apps, which it says duplicate the functions of Apple software already loaded on the iPhone.

Opera Mini enables faster mobile Web browsing by compressing web data at its servers by up to 90 percent before sending content to your mobile: this Opera claims, provides faster page loading, especially on slower mobile networks.

Surfing the Web with the Opera Mini App on iPhone and iPod touch can save money for people on conracts with data limits, especially while the user is incurring roaming charges.

'We are delighted to offer iPhone and iPod touch users a great browsing experience with the Opera Mini App,' said Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera Software. “This app is another step toward Opera's goal of bringing the Web to more people in more places." Opera claims that it already has 50 million customers worldwide.