PhoneLon

Stop the presses, something huge just happened in the App Store; Apple has approved a 3rd party web browser and added it to the virtual shelves of their all conquering app store! That’s right, the Opera Mini for iPhone app has been approved by Steve Jobs and co. and is now ready to be downloaded free in the app store!

We’ve been covering this story for some time, ever since we first caught glimpses of the Opera browser playing nicely with Apple’s iPhone back in February at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona. The browser, just like it’s various other incarnations for the various operating systems and Java enabled feature phones, compresses web pages by up to 90% offering lightening quick load times for web pages.

This compression not only drastically improves loading times but also lowers data costs as well, something that will come in handy for those who have switched their contracts to pay as you go in the run up to the inevitable launch of the iPhone 4G/ HD.

Whilst it would have seemed a no brainer for you or i, the fact remained that Apple had yet to approve a single third party web browser in the app store up until this point. But, the guys behind Opera for iPhone were adamant that they’d gone through the terms for apps with a fine tooth comb and it would appear they were right! Opera Mini for iPhone is available free in the App store now, check it out on your iPhone today.

We’ve been following this one ever since we first caught wind of it at last months Mobile World Congress and for good reason as, if successful, it could mark the start of a wave of copy-cat apps. For those unfamiliar with the origins of this story, Opera Mini for iPhone is an iPhone port of the popular web browser currently used on over 50 million phones worldwide. Opera were showing off the app playing nicely with an iPhone at MWC but now the app has taken one step closer to an official release; Opera have submitted the app to Apple for approval!

The Opera Mini web browser is unique as it boasts the ability to load pages faster by compressing web pages by up to 90% for even faster load times whilst this compression occurs on a remote server saving your phone from any unnecessary processing. Initial tests carried out by Opera themselves proved the Opera Mini browser was up to 6 times faster than the iPhone’s built in Safari browser. And not only does this improve speed but also reduces data usage, not something your average iPhone user will worry about in the UK thanks to inclusive data but definitely something to consider when using your phone abroad.

From the above, it seems it should be a no-brainer for Apple to approve Opera Mini for iPhone but the problem is, Apple has yet to approve a single third party web browser app for the iPhone. Opera are adamant they’ve followed all the submission guidelines to the finest detail but whether this will be enough for the sometimes overbearing Apple remains to be seen. Keep an eye on the Blog and we’ll let you know as soon as the Opera Mini for iPhone app is green lit or rebuffed.