Opera Software, a provider of Web browsers for the desktop, device and mobile markets, has submitted Opera Mini for iPhone to Apple for approval.
Previewed at Mobile World Congress 2010 in Barcelona during February, Opera Mini is the world’s most popular mobile Web browser, available on more than 50 million mobile phones worldwide
"The Opera Mini for iPhone sneak peek during MWC told us that we have something special," said Jon von Tetzchner, Co-founder, Opera Software.
"Opera has put every effort into creating a customised, stylised, feature-rich and highly responsive browser that masterfully combines iPhone capabilities with Opera’s renowned Web experience, and the result is a high performing browser for the iPhone."
Opera Mini for iPhone promises 'fast like a rocket,' browsing, up to six times faster than Safari according to an Opera press release and based on the company's tests.
Due to server-side rendering, Opera Mini compresses data by up to 90 per cent before sending it to the phone, resulting in rapid page loading and more Web per MB for the end user, the company insists.
Macworld's Mark Hattersley had a preview of Opera Mini for iPhone at MWC last month. "From the brief demonstration we are given, it is also clear that Opera on the iPhone lives up to its "very fast" reputation."
At the time Opera's Tetzchner told Macworld he didn't see any potential conflict with Apple, submitting Opera to the iTunes App Store, despite Apple licensing stating an application "must not duplicate core functionality."
"They are allowing other browsers" noted Tetzchner at the time. "We think they will allow it".
Apple originally had a problem with other browsers, but has approved those based upon WebKit to run on the iPhone.
"Opera is not based upon WebKit, but it's the world's most popular mobile browser. Why would Apple not want the world's most popular browser on the iPhone?"
"They [Apple] have allowed other browsers and Spotify, so why wouldn't they allow Opera?"
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