Opera Software has launched a new beta version of its Mini browser for mobile phones running on the Google’s open source Android platform.

The company claims that the Opera Mini 5 is capable of compressing data by up to 90% before sending content to the phone, resulting in improved page-load times and speed.

The new browser offers desktop-like web browsing experience on a mobile phone, with features such as speed dial, which is a set of favourite web pages; tabbed browsing for allowing users to browse various web sites at the same time; password manager and bookmarks with an easy-to-use interface, Opera said.

Dag Olav Norem, vice president of products at Opera Software, said: “Android users should not have to compromise when it comes to surfing the web on their phones. Opera Mini will give Android users a fast and cost-efficient access to their favourite web sites and services.”

Earlier this month, Opera Software has launched a native version of Opera Mini 5 beta for Windows Mobile 5- and 6-based handsets, which traditionally requires Java. The Mini 5 for Windows mobile phone included the same feature set as its Java-based version.