iPhone Already #1 Opera Mini Device In U.S.

The Opera Mini browser has been available for the iPhone for mere weeks, and already it has surpassed every other handset in the U.S. in terms of installs. It is also the number three Opera Mini handset world wide.

Eric Ogren, Contributor

April 28, 2010

2 Min Read
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The Opera Mini browser has been available for the iPhone for mere weeks, and already it has surpassed every other handset in the U.S. in terms of installs. It is also the number three Opera Mini handset world wide.Before Opera Mini launched for the iPhone, users of the device were stuck with Apple's Safari browser. While Safari does an admirable job, Opera Mini offers strengths of its own. Opera lobbied hard to get Mini on the iPhone, and Apple inexplicably approved the application several weeks ago. Based on Opera's State of the Mobile Web report, iPhone users were hungry for some choice. Here's what Opera says:

  • Following the launch of the iPhone in mid-April, this report, we preview some of the initial data from Opera Mini's release on the iPhone. These preliminary numbers will be reviewed in greater depth when we publish April's numbers next month.

  • The Apple iPhone is currently the #3 device used by Opera Mini users worldwide. All the other top 20 devices are Nokia and Sony Ericsson handsets.

  • The Apple iPhone is currently the #1 device used by Opera Mini users in the United States, well ahead of BlackBerry (which previously occupied the top spot).

  • Next month's top 10 countries may be in for a change. By mid-April, due to the iPhone launch, the United States jumped from #8 to #5 in the top 10 countries list.

  • Out of the top 10 countries according to Opera Mini usage, the United States and the United Kingdom are the two countries where the Apple iPhone has become the #1 device used by Opera Mini users. Beyond the top 10 countries, Australia, Korea, Canada, Germany and Japan are other examples of places where the iPhone has become the device of choice for Opera Mini users.

It's no surprise that devices from Nokia and Sony Ericsson factor high in Opera Mini adoption. Opera Mini has been available for the Symbian, S60 and S40 for an eternity. Because of its high data compression rates, it makes for a very good browser when roaming in other countries, as it reduces the amount of data used.

I do wonder how many people downloaded Opera MIni to test it out -- and then stopped using it. Though I have Opera Mini installed on my iPhone, I still use Safari as my main browser on the device. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm not alone. Opera doesn't specify if its report means the number of downloads, or the number of active users (which are too different things).

Can Opera Mini maintain its pace of growth for the iPhone? We'll find out next month.

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