Opera Mini Gets a Beta Version; Subscription Mobile Store Announced

Opera Software has unveiled the first beta version (only for Android) of its very-popular Opera Mini browser, finally enabling end-users to use upcoming features ahead of general release. The company is also working on a subscription model for apps called the Opera Subscription Mobile Store.

Notably, Opera Software released the beta version of its main browser back in March, following in Google and Mozilla's footsteps. The Opera Mini beta web browser (download) comes with a fresh new look in-line with the Google's Material Design. The black gradient bars on the top and bottom of the browser have been replaced by a matte white design. The company is claiming that the Opera Mini beta browser uses up to 90 percent less mobile data compared to other web browsers. The bowser also includes private tabs, which will work the same way as Guest session on FireFox or incognito mode on Chrome.

The Opera Subscription Mobile Store is essentially for operators to offer their apps through a subscription service, where operators can create their own stores, and it will give them the flexibility of selling apps to Android, BlackBerry, Java and more users from the platform.

As the company defines it, the "Subscription Mobile Store gives operators a virtual turnkey, market-tested mobile web storefront. The store is an open catalog with thousands of premium apps available for your customers to browse. With your own app subscription store, your customers can download as many apps as they like for one weekly rate."

The service will also offer an "all you can eat" model, in which users with a small weekly payment can download as many popular, premium apps as they like.