The FINANCIAL -- Opera Software on March 11 launched the newest beta version of the world's most popular browser for mobile phones, Opera Mini 5, on the Android platform. According to Opera, Opera Mini 5 beta for Android brings a fast and cost-efficient Web experience to any handset built on the Android platform.

Just like the versions of the beta for other phones, Opera Mini 5 for Android beta compresses data by up to 90 percent before sending content to the phone to speed up browsing over low-bandwidth data connections, according to the Norwegian browser company, PC World reports.

Other features of the beta version include tabbed browsing and speed dial, a feature that provides direct access to favorites via thumbnail images on the start page, according to the same source. There is also a password manager that can be used to store passwords for e-mail, social networking sites and online banking, Opera said. The beta can be downloaded from Android Market or by going to m.opera.com/next with an Android-based smartphone.

“Android users should not have to compromise when it comes to surfing the Web on their phones. Opera Mini will give Android users a fast and cost-efficient access to their favorite Web sites and services,” said Dag Olav Norem, Vice President of Products, Opera Software, as Opera informs.

Opera Mini 5 is now available for Java-enabled phones, BlackBerries and Windows Mobile as well as Android, The Register reports. The company also offers the beefier Opera Mobile browser - which bypasses those proxy servers - for Symbian and Windows Mobile phones.

Last month, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Opera demoed a version of Opera Mini for the Jesus Phone. But it has yet to actually submit the browser to the iPhone App Store.

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