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Opera Mini most popular Java Application for mobile phones in the world

13 Comments
 Published May 10th, 2007 12:25 PM EDT By Daniel Goldman

java-logo.pngWith the wild successes of Opera Mini (available for free), it has become the most popular downloadable Java App for mobile phones, according to Sun Microsystems, the maker of Java. More than 15 million people have downloaded and used Opera Mini since it was first released nearly 16 months ago.

Opera Mini uses a client-server mechanism to run the browser. On the client (mobile phone) side users install Opera Mini, which is an application written in Java (JME).

When you click on a link or type in an address, it contacts the Opera Mini servers, which then processes and reformats the page to fit the screen size of your phone, it then compresses the page content to about 1/5 of the original size before sending the webpage to your phone.

The processing and compression by the Opera Mini servers makes the browser perfect for phones with very low resources or low bandwidth connections.

Even Sun Microsystems recognized the accomplishments of Opera Mini.

Jean Elliott, senior director Client Software Group product marketing at Sun Microsystems said “With more than six million Java technology developers and 1.8 billion Java technology-enabled mobile handsets, the Java technology ecosystem continues to expand. Opera Mini has distinguished itself in this landscape and is succeeding to penetrate the market, making a great proof point of the ongoing vitality of the Java technology development community.”

Opera Mini is not only popular with users, but with handset manufacturers and mobile operators/carriers too. Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson ship some of their phones with a customized version of Opera Mini. T-Mobile and Telefonica also use Opera Mini to power the web on their phones.

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13 Comments

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  1. 1 DjiXas May 10th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    Why recently you’ve started to post so many stuff about Opera Mini, is this due that firefox trying to move into mobile?

  2. 2 Daniel Goldman May 10th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows XP

    DjiXas, absolutely not. There was just things to write about Opera Mini — it is very popular after all. :)

  3. 3 DjiXas May 10th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    I prefer news about Opera 9.5 :-)

  4. 4 Cyro May 10th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows Vista

    Everybody wants to know more about 9.5

  5. 5 DjiXas May 10th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    Yep, so why not to post something, Daniel Goldman?

  6. 6 Daniel Goldman May 10th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows XP

    Everybody wants to know more about 9.5

    Hehe… me too :)

  7. 7 Tadaaah! May 10th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    What’s wrong with Opera Mini?

    Should Daniel NOT report news on Opera Mini? LOL.

  8. 8 Daniel Aleksandersen May 11th, 2007 at 6:19 am
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Mac OS Mac OS X

    How would Sun know which Java application is the most popular? Just from a privacy point of view…

  9. 9 Daniel Goldman May 11th, 2007 at 10:19 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows XP

    Daniel Aleksandersen, I’m sure Sun’s marketing departement keeps track of these kind of stuff.

  10. 10 Kelson May 11th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Linux Linux

    Maybe Sun has deals with a number of Java app vendors to provide download statistics?

    If it’s just aggregate numbers, the privacy implications are minimal.

  11. 11 Guti May 12th, 2007 at 3:09 am
    using Opera Opera 9.21 on Windows Windows Vista

    Java is usually a slow and bloated technology, that is how I am impressed with the speed in Opera Mobile.

  12. 12 Md Hasli May 12th, 2007 at 6:01 am
    using Opera Mini Opera Mini 8.01

    Will Opera Mini be available on Apple’s iPhone? Personally, I prefer Mini over Mobile as it’s faster, and more than adequate for my daily use.

    Keep innovating!

  13. 13 DjiXas May 13th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.21 on Windows Windows XP

    Is it possible to create wands for Opera Mini (MIDP 2) and/or any download manager so I wont need to use default browser to dowload files.

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Opera Watch, an Opera browser blog, is run by Daniel Goldman, who used to work for Opera Software as a Technical Evangelist.

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About Opera


Q: What is Opera?
A: Opera is one of the most powerful Web browsers around. A Web browser is the program that allows you to view Web pages. Opera is well known for innovation for PC browsers and bringing the full web to mobile phones and devices.

Q: Is Opera free?
A: Absolutely free.

Q: Why should I download a browser? Doesn't my computer already come with one for free?
A: It's about getting more out of the time you spend on the internet. Opera is designed to be much faster than these browsers and gives you powerful features that the default browser lacks. Default browsers like Internet Explorer are also more likely to be subjected to dangerous software such as viruses and spyware.

Q: Will Opera keep me safe from fraudulent websites and malicious hackers?
A: According to Secunia, a respected firm that tracks security in browsers, Opera has the best reputation and track record when it comes to browser security. Keeping our users safe from security vulnerabilities, fraudulent websites, and malicious hackers is a top priority for Opera. Opera is maintained by hundreds of engineers, developers and security experts who are constantly looking to make the browser even safer.

Q: Doesn't Opera copy all of their features from other browsers?
A: Absolutely not. In fact, many of the features that are popular in other browsers today were invented and pioneered by Opera a long time ago. Opera invented the precursor to tabs (in 1994), Page Zoom (1994), was the first browser to block pop-up ads (2000), first to add a Search field in the browser toolbar (2000), Sessions (1996), deleting private data (2000), Mouse Gestures (2000), User JavaScript (2005), BitTorrent support (2005), Widgets (2006), Speed Dial (2007), and much more.

Q: Does Opera support extensions, such as those found in Firefox?
A: Much of the functionality provided through Firefox extensions is already built directly into Opera, so you don't have to download additional extensions in Opera. In addition, Opera is highly customizable and supports all standard plug-ins.

Q: Can I also use Opera on my mobile phone?
A: Yes. And your Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS or almost any connected device and mobile phones. Opera Mobile oftens comes preinstalled from the manufacturers, but if it doesn't you can install Opera Mini which runs on nearly all phones.

Q: This all sounds great, so how do I download Opera?
A: -- Opera on your computer
-- Opera Mini on your phone
-- Opera Mobile on your phone
-- or learn more about Opera at www.opera.com