14 DAY TRIAL // Opera Software will likely leave fate decide what happens to Opera Mini for iPhone, with Apple showing no interest in granting the app access in its iTunes App Store. In the meanwhile, the company announced an impressive milestone for its desktop install-base – 50 million users, which includes a significant number of Mac owners devouring web content via the feature-packed web browser.
With 20 days gone since the company submitted Opera Mini to Apple, there is little hope on the iPhone front left. What makes the situation look even worse for the company is that its count-up timer is still running, whereas Opera should simply accept defeat. Both end users and the makers of the browser are being denied a better future here, although Apple generally has good reasons to act this way. “Generally” doesn’t mean “always,” but we’ll let others judge Apple’s moves regarding Opera Mini – we have, so far, issued what we consider to be a legal dose of criticism on the subject.
As such, we’re left with formally informing our readers that Opera's desktop web browser is now used by 50 million people worldwide, going by the company’s claims. An identical figure was earlier reported on the mobile front, with the same amount of users employing Opera mini on various cell phones and other handheld devices running a flurry of operating systems.
“Our focus on speed, security, innovation and usability continues to yield results. We always listen to the needs and wants of our users, and they reward us by choosing Opera,” Jon von Tetzchner, co-founder of Opera Software, said, according to PC Advisor. “Opera for Desktop delivers the fastest browsing experience on the planet, with a visionary approach to features and a user-friendly design,” Lars Boilesen, CEO of Opera Software, added.
Opera Software has announced plans to exhibit its latest standards-based Web solutions during NAB 2010, between April 12 - April 15, in Las Vegas. This year’s show will see Opera shift focus on demonstrating how web technologies and standards can bring benefits to companies across the connected device ecosystem. Those include cable operators, device manufacturers, and content-delivery companies, aiming to “deliver valued-added content and services across their network or portfolio of devices,” Opera Software said in a press release.