Apple approves Opera Mini browser for iPhone

Opera Software announced Apple approved its Opera Mini mobile browser for the iPhone and iPod, heralding the first time the computing giant has allowed a rival browser access to its App Store to compete against the iPhone's native Safari. Reuters reports Opera submitted Opera Mini to Apple on March 23, and the browser launched live on the App Store Monday evening.

Its approval surprised most pundits, although Strand Consult CEO John Strand notes Opera previously led a successful antitrust complaint against Microsoft, urging the European Commission to investigate the software giant's bundling of Internet Explorer with its Windows operating system. "In this world you have to be careful in picking your fights," Strand told Reuters. "Apple has to know Opera is the company that won the big legal battle against the Microsoft browser and probably didn't want to fight against Opera."

Opera Mini runs content through Opera servers, compressing data by up to 90 percent before sending content to the device, promising significantly improved page loading and faster speeds, especially on slower networks. The free browser currently boasts more than 50 million users worldwide. As of Tuesday morning, Opera Mini ranks as the most popular free app download in the App Store.

For more on Apple's Opera Mini approval:
- read this release

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