Opera Mobile 9 coming in H1 2008

Opera Software will be releasing the latest mobile (not Mini) version of its browser somewhere in the first half of next year. Apparently, roughly at that time “a global mobile phone manufacturer will begin pre-installing Opera Mobile 9 on their Windows Mobile smartphones.” Now, the doors for the speculations are widely open. I guess we’ll see HTC leading the pack. After all, they’ve already shipped the Advantage with the pre-installed Opera Mobile.

But, it’s not just the Windows Mobile users who will cheer for the improved Web experience. Opera is also preparing to launch its browser for the Symbian UIQ platform, used most notably by Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) and Motorola (NYSE: MOT)… Hopefully, we’ll see the upcoming Motorola Z10 being among the first UIQ3-based smartphones to sport the new “Web 2.0 ready” browser. Stay tuned…

UPDATE: Opera Browser will be available only to OEMs and operators in H1 2008.  Opera Software still haven’t announced a date for the Opera Mobile 9 version that will be available for users to download.

[Via: Opera Watch]