No Opera Browser for iPhone

I love my mac. However, my primary email client is Thunderbird, not Mail. And my primary browser is Camino, not Safari (my dock also contains Firefox and Opera). Apple's default programs are good, but many tech geeks--myself included--find that third party software often performs better and offers more features for power users.

Unfortunately, we're out of luck with respect to the iPhone. Apple is currently rejecting any apps that duplicate the functionality of the default iPhone apps. Which means, until Apple changes its policy, iPhone users will never see a third party email client or web browser. Opera Software CEO Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner (say it three times fast) reported today that Apple rejected a version of Opera's mobile browser engineered specifically for the iPhone. I would have downloaded it. I might have even paid a nominal fee for it.

I don't object to Apple serving as gatekeeper for iPhone apps. I just think the gatekeeper's role should be limited to protecting iPhone hardware and iPhone users. Maybe Apple receives a significant revenue stream from Google searches done via mobile Safari, and is trying to protect those profits. I really don't know. If not, rejecting Opera's mobile browser is anti-competitive for the sake of being anti-competitive. Oh well.