It may not be welcome on the iPhone but just about everybody else with a living, breathing mobile phone can download the latest version of Opera Mini from today.

Version 4.2 of the shoehorned browser has just been released in beta promising "a more personalized experience" with new skins, better YouTube support on compatible handsets and an option to access saved notes from any handset as well as the personal bookmarks and history available previously.

Opera's also released latest figures on the number of users browsing with Opera Mini. It's now reached an impressive 20 million worldwide - still a tiny proportion of all the handsets out there but Opera CEO, Jon von Tetzchner, reckons user numbers are growing at a healthy 10% each month.

Opera 4.2 beta is available at www.operamini.com/beta/

Press Release:

20 million use Opera Mini worldwide
New beta version and server park launched today

Oslo, Norway - November 11, 2008 - Opera today released a preview of Opera Mini 4.2, the newest version of the world's most popular mobile Web browser that works on almost every mobile phone. With this beta release, Opera celebrates Opera Mini being the browser of choice for more than 20 million unique monthly users worldwide. As part of the celebration, Opera Mini users in the United States and Asia-Pacific region can now experience faster browsing speeds, due to the addition of an Opera Mini server park in the United States.

Opera Mini is available to download for beta testing at http://www.operamini.com/beta/.

"The number of people using Opera Mini worldwide proves that there is a true revolution going on: people want to access all their favorite Web sites on the mobile phone they have today," says Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera. "We constantly focus on developing a faster and more personal browsing experience. Opera Mini 4.2 beta is an update
that takes mobile Web browsing to the next level."

Opera Mini 4.2 beta provides a more personalized experience with its colorful selection of new skins, improved support for YouTube and other mobile video services on a wider selection of mobile phones.  Improvements in Opera Link allow users to share notes between their mobile phones and PCs, in addition to their bookmarks and recently-visited URLs.

"Opera Mini is a mobile application to be reckoned with," says John Jackson, Vice President, Yankee Group. "We have witnessed a 10% average growth in the number of Opera Mini users worldwide every month, with every indication that the trend will continue. As the browser keeps improving in speed and functionality and end-user awareness expands, Opera Mini's popularity to users worldwide should continue to grow."

"I love Opera Mini, because when it comes to functionality, there is nothing 'mini' about it," says Meri-Tuuli Fagerlund, a student from Finland. "I use Opera Mini daily to access the Web, and the best part is that I do not have to carry my laptop when I have Opera Mini in my pocket."

To join the other Opera Mini fans and to show us how you use the Opera Mini browser, check out Choose Opera at http://chooseopera.com/.

Opera Mini 4.2 beta is a free download from http://www.operamini.com/beta/.

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