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We interview Opera's co-founder Jon von Tetzchner about Opera Mini's chances on the iPhone. He says it hasn't been approved yet, but he is convinced that Apple will permit it, as "Opera Mini is the worlds most popular mobile browser and users on the iPhone deserve a choice." We hope he's right.  (Source: Mobility Today)
We interview Opera co-founder Jon von Tetzchner on the recent leadership change and Opera's upcoming iPhone browser

Opera is an intriguing company.  While it holds only around 2 percent global PC browser market share, the company nonetheless is a key driver of web standards and user interface innovation.  The company enjoys a somewhat different role in the video game console and mobile industry.  Opera's browsers for the Nintendo Wii and DSi make it one of the video game industry's top browser makers.  And in the mobile sector Opera Mini and Mobile currently are the most used browsers.

With a major leadership change -- co-founder and long-time CEO Jon von Tetzchner stepping down to assume a strategic role and Lars Boilesen becoming CEO -- we had been meaning to catch more thoughts from Opera for some time now.  And with Opera's huge announcement today that it was trying to get Opera Mini approved for the iPhone it seemed like a great time to catch up with the company.  

The following is our unabridged interview with Opera CEO Jon von Tetzchner:

DailyTech: For those who haven't heard, Opera announced some huge news today.  Opera, who currently holds the worldwide mobile browser lead is coming to the iPhone. To our knowledge the Apple software agreements forbid third-party browsers not built on webkit. How did you get Mini (which is built on a Java API and uses the Presto layout engine) past Apple?

Jon von Tetzchner: We have not submitted Opera Mini so far. However, we  are convinced that Apple will welcome quality software to their platform. Opera Mini is the worlds most popular mobile browser and users on the iPhone deserve a choice.

DailyTech: Originally it seemed like Opera Mobile was for higher end phones and Opera Mini was for older models. Now Opera seems to be headed away from that, putting Mini on the Blackberries and now the iPhone. What's Opera's current scheme for Mini/Mobile and why does it still make sense to have two separate mobile browser lines?

JvT: The two browsers are different. Opera Mini is a smaller browser and generally faster on slow connections. Opera Mobile has more capabilities. Both of them now share the same user interface and both share the same rendering engine, but in the case of Opera Mini the rendering is done on our servers.

We find that some users prefer Opera Mini while others prefer Opera Mobile.  We believe both would be great for the iPhone, but we have chosen Opera Mini, with focus on speed.

DailyTech: How do you feel the new Opera Mini version stacks up to Safari on the iPhone? What are its key strengths?

JvT: Opera Mini is a very rich browser, but the first significant difference is seen in speed. Opera Mini can be up to 6 times faster on 3G networks. This allows it to be very pleasant in use, even on slow networks.

Opera Mini also has plenty of useful functionality, including speed dial, tabbed browsing, etc. Overall Opera Mini gives a fast and powerful browsing experience.

Opera Mini also saves money while roaming, as it compresses data by up to 90%.

DailyTech: On an entirely different topic, you've been going through a major role transition at Opera, moving out of the chief executive role and into a strategy role, from what we've gathered. Tell us a little bit about the new division of responsibilities.

JvT: Yes, after 15 years as CEO, I have chosen to have a more flexible role.  This allows me to focus more on the things that interest me  the most, while leaving the general administration to Lars Boilesen.

This means I spend more time on discussing strategy, product directions and marketing. I also get to spend more time with employees and users of Opera.  The energy we have in the company is second to none and the dedication as well. We all want to make better browsers and services for our users.

DailyTech: It must be exciting to get back closer to development and the products that have made your company a key player in the mobile, desktop, and console markets. Tell us a bit about it.

JvT: Very exciting indeed! I have always spent time with the products, but with no administrative work, I can spend much more time on this. Things are moving quickly now and it is very exciting to see the improvements being made in all our products and the innovation from the team.

DailyTech thanks Jon von Tetzchner for taking the time to speak with us and share his thoughts with our readers.

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iPhone, iPhone I don't need no stinking iPhone
By Gio6518 on 2/10/2010 12:56:21 PM , Rating: 2
why would anyone even be intrested in the iphone look at this beast rumored to be coming out

quote:
If you're a person who demands the best out of your smartphone, we think we just found your next device: the HTC Scorpion. AndroidSPIN has received a leaked build file that details this device and it's a doozy: the Scorpion runs Android 2.2 on a 1.5 GHz Snapdragon Processor with support for WiMAX. That means it pretty much outspecs every device currently on the market and sets a new standard while at it. Yeah, we can't stop drooling either.




RE: iPhone, iPhone I don't need no stinking iPhone
By tayb on 2/10/2010 2:41:23 PM , Rating: 2
Most web sites I've read that even bothered to report on those leaked specs think it will be a smartbook/netbook and not a phone.


RE: iPhone, iPhone I don't need no stinking iPhone
By Gio6518 on 2/10/2010 4:19:02 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
think it will be a smartbook/netbook and not a phone.


i guess it depends where you go ive seen it say both...

considering it says wimax id have to say sprint, in that case, they were suppose to release the HTC supersonic with a 1ghz and pretty much all the rest the same, but they might have bumped it up to a 1.5 ghz snapdragon due to the fact that apple is releasing the 4G possibly later (rumors are june)this year and not to be outdone...

but yes it could be a netbook, not sure if google completed the chrome OS for netbooks yet, or if they are going the lame way that apple did and use a phone OS on a tablet...

one thing for sure if its a phone its mine ! ! ! ! !


By cmdrdredd on 2/10/2010 5:34:06 PM , Rating: 2
Again, put any wizbang woopdydoo features in you want. It won't beat the iPhone because it's not an iPhone. Think about that for a moment. People want an Mp3 Player and what immediately comes to mind? iPod. Name recognition is too hard to beat, even if you feel the Zune is a better device people will think you're not cool because it's not an iPod. The same thing happens here, "Oh...I thought you had an iPhone"


By themaster08 on 2/11/2010 4:22:40 AM , Rating: 2
Why is it that the iPhone is still classed as a benchmark for all smartphones?

When it came out, sure. There was nothing else quite like it on the market. But that was 2007! Now we have a whole host of phones that outperform even the latest iteration of the iPhone.

The only two factors that are still yet to be matched are the App store (which will probably never happen) and mass appeal (which will never be matched, because it's Apple after all).


This is also the company....
By yomamafor1 on 2/10/10, Rating: 0
RE: This is also the company....
By armulyman on 2/10/2010 11:31:53 AM , Rating: 2
I'm confused how exactly does it hurt the consumer? I've never heard it proposed that they don't include any browser at all, just that the user be given the choice when they set up.


RE: This is also the company....
By BZDTemp on 2/10/2010 3:25:31 PM , Rating: 2
Pushing a product down people throat like MS did with IE is not anti-competitive! You have got to be kidding. If nothing else look up what the gift from MS did to Netscape.

Do you even grasp what damage MS did with that practice inventing their own standards rather than following open ones.


By Alexstarfire on 2/10/2010 3:50:03 PM , Rating: 3
You are just like all the others that spout the same crap they read about without actually taking time to think about it and come up with your own conclusion. Yes, AT THAT POINT it became anti-competitive. They used their marketshare in the browser market to make their own standards. The fact that a browser is included with an OS is not anti-competitive. It's like calling MS anti-competitive for using explorer.exe as the default program for viewing folders and such. There are other programs you can use instead of explorer.exe after all. Same could be said of Windows Messenger.

Something as universal as the internet, or more specifically www/HTTP, you need standards, else it would just be a big mess. When you go about trying to change that with your vast marketshare then it's entirely anti-competitive. But it was only uncompetitive when that happens, not before it happens. IE does not have it's own standards anymore like it did in IE6.

Yes, they caused damage which can still be seen to this day. I just want you to know that there is difference between just having the browser and using it to change stuff.


RE: This is also the company....
By omnicronx on 2/10/2010 4:16:39 PM , Rating: 2
I'm sorry but this would have never been an issue if Opera was a US company. The European Union has only done what it does best, protect its personal interests.

Furthermore did you ever think that perhaps a browser has become an integral part of ANY consumer OS and should be packaged with one? I assure you that even in the stripped out versions of Windows 7, low level browsing components (i.e rendering engine etc) still live on. There are far too many windows components that cannot rely on an external browser.
This would be no different in other OS's whether it be OSX or Linux variants.


Speculative at best
By bhieb on 2/10/2010 2:07:58 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
How did you get Mini past Apple?

quote:
We have not submitted Opera Mini so far

quote:
Now Opera seems to be headed away from that, putting Mini on the Blackberries and now the iPhone


So lets recap they have not even submitted it to Apple, and Apple sure as hell has not accepted it. But the DT interviewer then makes the leap that they are putting on the iPhone.

This whole mess is just another piss poor job of trying to create news out of nothing. Two articles today both referencing the iPhone and neither Apple or Opera have even started the process.

"Hey I've created a new 4G mod so that the phone can run on Sprint. I'm sure Apple wants to provide a quality upgrade to their customers, and because I say so that means it is going to the iPhone right."

What a load of speculative reporting.




iPhone
By damianrobertjones on 2/10/2010 11:49:20 AM , Rating: 2
Onwers don't deserve a choice at all as THAT'S what they've bought into by buying an apple product.

By a G5, get it dropped when Snow lep arrived. Buy an iPhone = Only the apple way stands.

If apple opened the door the stability would soon fall and that's not to say that they do anything 100% stable.




Just corporate spin
By someguy123 on 2/10/2010 12:54:44 PM , Rating: 2
While I do think opera is a better browser than safari, a closed platform is a closed platform. Jon is just trying to create bad PR and force apple into allowing their browser onto the iphone, but I doubt he'll be able to.




By piroroadkill on 2/11/2010 5:38:56 PM , Rating: 2
They chose a fully locked in platform that apple tightly controls, so they got exactly what they expected. NOT choice.




bad assumption
By Smilin on 2/15/2010 1:20:27 PM , Rating: 2
Opera keeps soapboxing about giving people a choice.

Get a clue: People don't want your sh1t.

When given a free choice of browsers on multiple OSes Opera consistently falls to the bottom.




iPhone users do have a choice.
By reader1 on 2/10/10, Rating: -1
RE: iPhone users do have a choice.
By armulyman on 2/10/2010 11:34:09 AM , Rating: 2
I don't really agree with this reasoning, buying a piece of hardware only to be told what software you are allowed to run on it, is like buying a hammer and being told what brand of nails you are allowed to use with it.


RE: iPhone users do have a choice.
By reader1 on 2/10/10, Rating: -1
RE: iPhone users do have a choice.
By Mitch101 on 2/10/10, Rating: 0
RE: iPhone users do have a choice.
By reader1 on 2/10/10, Rating: -1
RE: iPhone users do have a choice.
By Camikazi on 2/10/2010 3:01:15 PM , Rating: 1
Really? Then why do I have Linux installed on a comp that once had Windows? I see no cops around arresting me for it, no one is forced to use Windows.


By supergarr on 2/10/2010 3:26:54 PM , Rating: 2
Consumers aren't forced to use/buy windows


By Alexstarfire on 2/10/2010 3:54:00 PM , Rating: 1
And this is why everyone downrates you. You fail at understanding.


By themaster08 on 2/11/2010 4:28:09 AM , Rating: 1
Are you trying to tell us that OSX isn't a good enough alternative them?


RE: iPhone users do have a choice.
By rcc on 2/10/2010 1:08:45 PM , Rating: 2
?
For the same reason a Chevrolet is a Chevy?

Or and Automobile is a car?

On the flip side, coke was already a word, so when some people started calling it "coke" it was easier to spell it that way.


RE: iPhone users do have a choice.
By jvillaro on 2/10/2010 12:08:50 PM , Rating: 2
Opera will try eventualy to do the same they did with the Windows/IE pairing. If you consider that was fair, then it should apply here too.


RE: iPhone users do have a choice.
By reader1 on 2/10/10, Rating: -1
RE: iPhone users do have a choice.
By Gio6518 on 2/10/2010 12:59:31 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
It would have been better if they made open platforms illegal.


you keep cracking me up..........

you keep supporting Apple king of the control freaks and and then you post that LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL


RE: iPhone users do have a choice.
By armulyman on 2/10/2010 3:02:03 PM , Rating: 2
yeah reader1 should work for stephen colbert, he's an excellent satirist.


RE: iPhone users do have a choice.
By jvillaro on 2/10/2010 6:05:44 PM , Rating: 2
It would be fun if you could rate him down below -1!
But anyway, my mom taught not to make fun out of the mentally challenged so lets leave it at that.

It's funny how he reminds me of Pirks...


By themaster08 on 2/11/2010 4:50:15 AM , Rating: 1
C'mon, Reader1. Not a single person ever agrees with you. You're an insignificant minority. And for as long as that happens, open platforms will live to dominate the computing world.

You can spout on about the iPhone being closed platform to your heart's content, but it's just plain obvious that most people that bought one aren't even aware of what a closed platform is, let alone buy one because it has one.

If the iPhone was open platform, those same people would have bought one. I imagine it would have sold even more for that matter, because it would have had far more appeal to a broader audience. People that have more technical knowledge.

Sure, the App store would have suffered, but there would have been even more developers at the wheel to produce Apps for the device. If developers wanted to charge for Apps, they would be forced to be creative and we would get many genuinely excellent and unique Apps, instead of copies of flash based games that developers can make a quick buck for on the iPhone. Closed platforms encourage laziness because those developers know there is no other way to get that App without paying.

Yeah, I'm wasting my time, just as you are yours. But, no matter what absurd comments you have lined up, common sense will prevail.


RE: iPhone users do have a choice.
By cmdrdredd on 2/10/2010 5:43:35 PM , Rating: 1
It's true though, nobody put a gun to your head telling you to buy the iPhone. If I buy a car, I'm given options for engine size (similar to memory size on the iPhone), but I cannot pick which manufacturer the engine comes from. If I buy a Ford Fusion I'm getting the engine Ford produces for that car. I can't tell them I'd rather have a BMW engine.

I know it's a stretch but it's pretty close to what I'm trying to say. There's many products where you don't get a choice. Consoles are another example. I buy a PS3 but I want the Xbox Menu system on it, I can't have it.

Let me say one last thing. How many of you want to read through topics on every tech forum and PC help site about "what browser should I install with my new PC?" You have IE, Netscape, Opera, Safari, Firefox, Chrome to pick from. Do you expect the average user, think a mom with no tech knowledge just trying to setup a PC to email friends and let the kids do homework related things on. Is she going to know what each browser offers? Probably not. It's much simpler to install IE by default and allow her to use that unless she wishes to try a different browser in which case she can download and install anything. I don't see why Apple cannot use this approach too. They can allow you to choose to download and install a different browser on the iPhone but at the same time keep Safari in there as the default from the factory unless the user specifically downloads the app for something else. That I think we can all agree is fair.


RE: iPhone users do have a choice.
By mlZr on 2/11/2010 2:41:23 PM , Rating: 2
It's not like owning a ps3 and wanting an xbox 360 menu system. It's like a developer wanting to make a car racing game for ps3, and sony saying "no, we have gran tourismo. We make a bunch of money on it, don't duplicate our efforts and steal our profits.". The big deal is not the "moms" having complicated decisions about web browsers, the big deal is that apple is creating a TRUE monopoly. The cute little company that made quirky computers with motorala chips has become the big bad behemoth that strong arms developers.


"I mean, if you wanna break down someone's door, why don't you start with AT&T, for God sakes? They make your amazing phone unusable as a phone!" -- Jon Stewart on Apple and the iPhone











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