12 July 2008

Don't Expect Symbian Version of
Opera 9.5 Mobile Browser Any Time Soon

As you may have already know, Opera Mobile 9.5 beta will be officially announced next week which is great news but only if you are Windows Mobile owner.

Apparently they’ll not release the Symbian version next week, in a matter of act all other mobile platforms are leaved behind and only Windows mobile version of Opera 9.5 Mobile will be released next week.

"After we announced last week that the first beta was expected on July 15th, many of you asked if we would offer a Symbian version. We will offer a Symbian version of Opera Mobile, but you will have to wait a while."

"We do not yet know when the Symbian version will be ready because development and quality assurance on mobile devices is time consuming. In the meantime Opera Mini is a great alternative for Symbian users. On July 15th, we'll release that first beta for Windows Mobile. Then we need your feedback and ideas to help us improve the browser."

So they are clear now, don’t expect Symbian port of the latest Opera Mobile soft any time soon but I would like to ask why, why you are going to discriminate Symbian users!?! What is the reason to push one not so popular mobile platform instead of releasing the product for the world’s leading Smartphone platform with significantly larger market share!?

This is even weirder considering that some of the UIQ prototypes (Paris and BeiBei) are equipped with Opera Mobile browser v9.5 and it works just fine without notable problems!?

Is this only because of the fact that S60 phones are equipped with the great Nokia’s Safari based browser and therefore they are not that interesting in Symbian S60 version?! I know that we can’t really blame them because it’s all about business, money and strategy. We've already waited for such a long time

Although it is disappointing for users who have been waiting for such a long time, waiting a little bit longer won't make a big difference but fact that we are we are pushed to the corner and leaved behind is painful :/