Opera surpasses iPhone for mobile browser lead

Web browser development firm Opera Software edged out Apple to claim the lead in worldwide mobile web browser market share in May, according to data from website traffic analysis firm StatCounter Global Stats. Opera now accounts 24.6 percent of the worldwide mobile web browser market, compared to 22.3 percent for iPhone--Nokia retains third place with 17.9 percent. StatCounter notes that if iPod touch browser numbers are included in the equation, then Apple far outstrips Opera--iPod touch alone captured 14.9 percent of the mobile browser market in May.

Opera last held the top spot in January 2009, with Apple taking over in February. StatCounter notes that Research In Motion's BlackBerry devices are steadily gaining ground, increasing from 4.9 percent market share in January to 6.9 percent last month. "Despite the global recession it looks as if executives are holding on to their BlackBerries," notes StatCounter CEO Aodhan Cullen in a prepared statement.

For more on the mobile browser market:
- read this release

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