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Opera Software introduced the Opera Mini 5 and Opera Mobile 10 March 16, two new mobile Web browsers that are compatible with a number of mobile phone platforms, including Google’s Android and RIM’s BlackBerry, and that are now available as free downloads.
“Keeping in mind the needs and wants our [50-million-plus] users, we have emphasized speed, desktop-like functionality and data savings in our mobile browsers,” Opera CEO Lars Boilesen said in a statement. “Today, we have made it even easier for everyone to surf, search and socialize on the Web.”
Bragging points, Opera points out, include the quality of the Web experience, the ease with which the browsers can be downloaded and the speeds at which they operate. Additionally, Opera Mini’s compression software is said to reduce the amount of data sent to a phone by up to 90 percent, which can significantly lower the bills of those users on pay-per-megabyte data plans.
The Opera interface includes features such as speed dial, tabs and a password manager, and the program lets users sync bookmarks, notes and the contacts in one’s speed dial online, offers users access to their data from any Internet connection.
The Opera Mini 5 is compatible with Java, BlackBerry, Android and Windows Mobile phones, while Opera Mobile 10 is available for Windows Mobile and Symbian S60-based phones.
With approximately 24.6 percent market share, as of February, Opera is the most-used smartphone browser, surpassing Apple’s Safari browser for the iPhone, which holds about 22.3 percent of the market.
While Opera has offered a “sneak peek” at its Opera Mini for iPhone, it has yet to release the browser for this additional platform. However, on Feb. 25, Opera introduced a beta version of Opera 10.5 for Mac that is said to “smarten up” the address bar and include multitouch navigation.
Both Opera Mini 5 and Mobile 10 can be downloaded from the Opera Software site.