Opera To Preview iPhone BrowserOpera To Preview iPhone Browser

In a move to drum up support for its Opera Mini browser for the iPhone before seeking Apple's approval, Opera Software is going directly to its partners and the press at next week's Mobile World Congress where it will preview a new version of its browser.

In the past, Apple has defended its Safari browser by blocking an older version of the Opera browser, which didn't adhere to Apple's underlying platform and software development kit agreement restrictions. In an announcement on the MWC preview site, Opera didn't say whether its new mini browser complies with Apple's guidelines. A release date for the Opera Mini browser hasn't been set yet.

"We are thrilled to offer journalists and partners an exclusive preview of Opera Mini for iPhone," said Jon von Tetzchner, Opera Software's co-founder, in a statement Wednesday. "This is a unique opportunity to introduce the fast, feature-rich Opera Mini experience for the iPhone." The Opera Mini browser is currently offered free of charge.

The Opera Mini, which is available on several mobile platforms, has been in a neck-and-neck mobile browser race with Apple's Safari, which is used on Apple products. Users like the compression technology in Opera browsers, which cuts data surcharges. The mini browser also includes some desktop browser features like tabs, speed dial, and password manager.

In addition to unveiling the iPhone mini browser, Opera said it will showcase several other Opera-powered devices including Opera Mobile 10 beta 3 on Symbian S60 and Windows Mobile handsets and Opera Mobile 10 beta on Android handsets. The Norway-based firm also plans to unveil a cross-platform Widgets Manager beta for Windows Mobile and S60 handsets.