There are a bunch of apps available at the App Store that you can download directly to your iPhone. Ranging from pure entertainment software to games and even productivity applications, you can find almost anything.
However, one app sorely missing is an alternative to the Mobile Safari browser. Not that we're disappointed with it, it’s just that it would be nice to see how it stacks up against the rest of the mobile internet browsers. Unfortunately, we probably won’t ever get that chance. A recent interview with Opera CEO Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner by the NYTimes reveals that Apple isn’t at all amused by the idea of a rival browser being made available for the iPhone:
Mr. von Tetzchner said that Opera’s engineers have developed a version of Opera Mini that can run on an Apple iPhone, but Apple won’t let the company release it because it competes with Apple’s own Safari browser.
Isn’t this scenario quite familiar with a case in the past where a big software company was hit by an antitrust lawsuit because they bundled their web browser with their OS? Isn’t Apple doing the same by not allowing other mobile browsers to be installed on the iPhone? Apple might be wise to rethink their current position on this matter to avoid a similar lawsuit being filed against them by concerned parties.
How about you guys? What’s your take on this issue?
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