Opera brings Mini 6 browser to Apple iPad and iPhone

Opera has released a version of its Mini 6 web browser for Apple iOS devices, promising improved page load times and navigation and sharing functions.

Opera unveiled its iOS Mini browser in the spring of 2010. The decision was initially met with some scepticism owing to Apple's policy of turning down App Store submissions which compete with its own products.

The latest version of Opera Mini on iOS boosts performance, and improves the way panning and zooming actions are displayed. Hot buttons are now included to share links on Facebook, Twitter and vKontakte.

"We have put in a lot of rehearsal and clever thought behind the new experience," said Opera chief executive Lars Boilesen.

"The Opera Mini browser has always kicked up the tempo when downloading pages; now the browsing flows along to a smooth, easy beat."

The company claimed that Opera Mini has an installed base of more than 107 million devices, and that use of the Mini browser has risen by 4.6 per cent over the past month.

Opera is also looking to improve the tools offered to mobile developers, and will issue an update for the Opera Mobile Emulator to allow developers to test  web-based applications for compatibility with mobile versions of the Opera browser.

Opera Mini versions claimed less than one per cent of all mobile web traffic in April, according to research firm Net Applications.