Opera Mini tops 25 mil. downloads

Independent app store GetJar said this week that the world’s most popular mobile web browser, Opera Mini, has been downloaded more than 25 million times from its store. This makes Opera Mini the most downloaded app ever from any open app store to date, GetJar claims.

The white label app store said the latest version of Opera Mini (v4.2) has received nearly 7.5 million downloads since the beginning of 2009 and remains one of GetJar’s top five most downloaded applications globally. GetJar thinks the secret to the browser’s success is its cross platform attraction for consumers using Java, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices.

Telecoms.com recently profiled both Jon von Tetzchner, CEO of Opera Software and Ilja Laurs, founder and CEO of GetJar in its list of 40 movers and shakers in the mobile market. GetJar is an interesting case  in the app store world – as of May 2009, the firm boasted a portfolio of 46,000 mobile games and apps and serves 35 million downloads per month through its own site and its network of partners, including carriers such as Vodafone, and vendors like Research In Motion. The company offers a global distribution and payment platform to a base of 350,000 developers, from one-man shops to established brands like Google, Microsoft and Facebook.

View telecoms.com’s profiles on Jon von Tetzchner, CEO of Opera, and  Ilja Laurs, founder and CEO of GetJar in the Top 40 to Watch

The white label app store caters to Java-based devices and targets Symbian, Windows Mobile, iPhone, Palm, BlackBerry, and Flash Lite-compatible phones. Most recently GetJar has announced partnerships with Virgin Mobile France, 3UK and Sony Ericsson.