Android's browser overtook Opera to become the dominant browser in the mobile environment last month, according to figures from StatCounter. This situation, may, however, only be temporary.

Opera has consistently occupied the top slot for most used mobile web browser.

Two months ago it had a 24% share but since then it has declined. A year ago Android was in 4th position with only 15%, but its has climbed steadily with the most recent share being 23%, a percentage point ahead of Opera's.

iPhone is also in close contention to Opera. From second position (18% share) twelve months ago, its share dropped to 15% in August 2011 but then recovered and is now at 21%.

Although Nokia has only gone from 3rd to 4th in terms of position it  has declined in terms of share from 16% to 11% and Blackberry, which has stayed in 5th position for the entire year  has declined even more sharply in its share which has halved - going from 14% to 7%.

(Click in chart to enlarge)

While it is unlikely that Nokia or Blackberry will see an increased share in future, Opera may, however, rebound. It recently unveiled Opera Mini Next, a developer beta of its popular Opera Mini browser, at last week's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Its new feature is ‘Smart Page’, a tab which gives fast and easy access to social networks from the browser home screen. 

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