Opera Mini and New Opera Mobile, Now Without Telkomsel Logo

Opera launched updates for its two versions of browsers, Opera Mini 6 and Opera Mobile 11, and Opera launched them for almost all platforms. Publics are still debating about why Opera finally ceased its support for Windows Mobile (fixed in Opera Mini 5 and Opera Mobile 10) and still have not support the platform of Windows Phone 7.

It is natural because there are many Windows Mobile users out there who are disappointed because the default browser, Internet Explorer Mobile is not as good as the two Opera applications. But we can also understand the decision of Opera on both Windows smart phones platforms because of its decreasing popularity. But in my expectations, Opera will eventually going to support Windows Phone 7 after Nokia launch its first product with the platform in early 2012.

In a smaller scope, in Indonesia you can enjoy the update of Opera Mini and or Opera Mobile on J2ME platform, Symbian, BlackBerry, Android (including Honeycomb Tablet version that has not officially present at this time), and Windows 7 (Tablet version). Opera Mini for the iOS version (iPhone and iPad) will also be present. One thing that is different from the previous version of Opera Mini, is the disappearance of the Telkomsel logo which previously always decorate the loading page, even if you use a different telecommunication operator.

Indeed, after further reviewed, the cooperation between Opera and Telkomsel signed at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, February 2010, specifically included the version of Opera Mini 5 in their cooperation package. Thus we assume that the similar cooperation does not apply to the subsequent versions, unless there is an extension of cooperation. However, in the Telkomsel site there is still exist Telkomsel special promotional Opera Mini package (daily, weekly, and monthly) for unlimited surfing. We have not received confirmation yet either from the Opera nor Telkomsel about this.

After combined, Opera Mini and Opera Mobile are the most widely used mobile browser in the world, with total claim of 100 million users in 3000 types of mobile phone and 7 platforms. This amount is greater than Android or iPhone users which are recently being prima donna.

The significant difference from both products is in the data processing. Opera Mini is lighter because of all the processing forms and data compression are performed in the Opera server (server side), while Opera Mobile performs everything in the mobile phone (client side) which need a phone with better performance. Opera Mobile 11 supports the Android, Symbian, MeeGo, and Windows 7 Tablet platforms, and is able to run the HTML5 formats just like the Mobile Safari or Android browsers. Especially for Android phones, Opera Mobile 11 also supports Adobe Flash format.

Translated by Nita Sellya.