Web browser developer Opera is set to launch the beta version of their Opera Mini browser next week. It’s a neat little application that will supposedly enhance your mobile web browsing experience. And anyone who has mobile web on their non-smart phone would probably agree that it’s not a great experience as it stands right now. Verizon apparently doesn’t want you to have that experience. While AT&T and T-Mobile have accepted the browser with open arms, it is still not available through Verizon. The reason is uncertain, but the result is that you’ll be stuck with a rather mundane web browsing experience if you’re with the nation’s No. 2 service provider. The more general problem is that Verizon does not support third-party applications. It’s a shame, since many of those apps have the potential to truly enhance the mobile web browsing experience. And that would lead to more subscribers and more sales. Alas, Verizon seems to have plans of their own. It’s just that we don’t know what, exactly, those plans are. Are they trying to move more customers towards their data-based plans for the impending Prada? Are they working on a better browser of their own? Really, we can’t be sure at this point. However, given Opera’s popularity (15 million downloads worldwide), there seems to be room for it in the market. [ZDnet]]]>
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