Opera challenges Apple with alternative iPhone browser

Jonny Evans

February 10, 2010

iPhone - iPod

Opera Software will show off a demo version of its Opera Mini browser for the iPhone at next week’s Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, the company says.

The browser is said to offer browsing that’s up to six times faster than the iPhone’s current Safari browser, Katrin Jaakson, communications manager at Opera, said.

“We are thrilled to offer journalists and partners an exclusive preview of Opera Mini for iPhone during the year’s biggest mobile event,” said Jon von Tetzchner, Co-founder, Opera Software.

“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’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.”

The speed boost comes because Opera Mini uses a proxy server to compress and reformat pages before they reach the iPhone, which also reduces data demand.

Additional features will include support for tabs and direct access to favourites using thumbnail images.

Opera hasn’t submitted its iPhone browser to the App Store.

We’re curious to see what Apple’s response to the competing browser will be. "I think it is highly unlikely that Opera Mini will be approved," Paolo Pescatore, analyst at CCS Insight told IDG.

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Comments (15)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 6:00am

Thank God! Not to start a flame war, but I have found Safari among the worst browsers I've ever used. Even worse than the old Netscape Navigator. I use Opera in OS X and Windows, and have been impatiently waiting much too long for Opera on my iPhone. I am pretty sure we will have to wait for it to hit Rock or Cydia, but at least it is out there. My day has been made better already!

Thanks for the great news, 9to5Mac!

Ben Fiesta (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 6:13am

Great!

Browser competition, however slanted, on the iPhone platform can't be bad!
And the Opera minimizing feature is a great addition!

Having said that, Safari IS a great browser.

Ben

Olternaut (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 6:18am

Apple is going to become the new Microsoft if they don't watch themselves. I betcha that opera browser runs flash too.
And even if it doesn't I doubt that Apple will approve it once it reaches the app store...and I think the opera guys realize this as well.

I think they'll submit it to the store anyway out of principle.

Outsider (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 6:31am

Why would Opera devote time and resources to prove a point? That's what I don't get. There is something up; maybe they worked on it with Apple and have a good idea of it's status of approval.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 6:46am

It wont include Flash because it is not technically feasible to run Flash on an iPhone at this time. It's not just Apple blocking Flash because they don't like it... it's Adobe that hasn't shipped a lightweight version that won't make an iPhone burst into flames.

Luis Alejandro Masanti (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 6:41am

This is absolutely magnificent!
They "rebuild" the internet so their browser on the iPhone is faster!

Stefano (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 6:45am

CONSPIRACY THEORY ALERT: Maybe Adobe and Opera are working together on this one since Apple seems less than thrilled to implement the flash plugin into Safari Mobile.

Luke Bornheimer | February 10, 2010 - 7:39am

As far as I'm concerned, I don't see what Apple WOULDN'T allow the app in the App Store.

Think about it this way:

What are the chances that I (the consumer) will buy a 3rd-party browser when I have a FREE one already on my iPhone? Furthermore, the Safari app runs in the background and serves as an easy in-and-out app; Opera's app would not have the same ease.

With that, if the app costs $, Apple takes a cut. I would think MAYBE 5% of iPhone owners would buy the app, AT MOST. That doesn't seem like a big threat to me.

Before it launched, I'm sure many of you would have doubted that Apple would EVER allow anything that said "Bing" in the name...clearly pigs have begun to fly, so to speak.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 8:44am

Its free on every other platform so why would they charge in the App Store?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 9:03am

When did Oprah get into the browser business?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 1:02pm

She's leaving the talk show business, might as well make a browser.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 4:21pm

ha ha ha funny!

Energy Crotch (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 11:12am

There are a bunch of alternative web browsers in the App store. From what I've read they're all webkit based. That said, I think there's a bit of grandstanding going on. Call out Apple then cull together a big preview before even submitting the App. Just submit it.

Kolja (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 12:53pm

Please, please, please, please !!!!

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 10, 2010 - 4:40pm

Opera Mobile was awesome on old Blackberries. The default browser was the crappy mobile version of the internet, and Opera would make everything look like it does from a desktop browser while making it easy to use.