Opera mobile browser now on Google’s Android

Opera Software today launched the latest beta version of its popular mobile web browser, Opera Mini 5, for the Android mobile operating system (OS).
The Google Android mobile OS was first launched in October 2008 with the HTC Dream handset. India got Android in July 2009 with the launch of HTC Magic. The Android OS has become widely popular especially owing to the fact that it is an open source platform which means that the program’s code is freely available and any developer can create applications to run on it, without having to take permission or licenses.
Research company Gartner predicts that Android sales will surge to 14 per cent of the global smart phone market in 2012, ahead of the iPhone, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry smart phones.
In an email response to Telecom Yatra, an Opera Software spokesperson said “Opera Mini Browser is in its fifth generation now. With Opera Mini 5 Beta version we want to give Android users the ‘one web’ experience on their mobiles too. Users can have the same browsing experience on their mobile, desktops or any other device.” The Opera Mini 5 Beta has speed dials, bookmarks, tabs and Password manager.
Opera believes that mobile Internet has tremendous scope in India. The spokesperson added, “India’s PC penetration remains lower than the global average, as a result of this people turn towards their handsets to get online. (With) the launch of affordable handsets such as Micromax, Spice Mobile and Lemon Mobile, there is bound to be an exponential growth in mobile internet as well.
In India, Opera Software has developed close partnerships with operators such as Tata Teleservices. Tata delivers Opera Mini on approximately 30 handset models, allowing users to download it as a service.”