The Opera Mobile 10.1 browser for Android was released earlier this week, and received a positive first-look review by eWEEK. In other app news, Microsoft's Bing for Mobile Android app shipped on all major U.S. carriers, and Fuze Box launched its Fuze Meeting for Android conferencing app, says eWEEK..

Earlier this week, Opera Software followed up on its promise and released a beta version of Opera Mobile 10.1 for Android (pictured). Our sister publication eWEEK has published a first-look review of the browser, and n the words of reviewer Cameron Sturdevant, "compared side-by-side with an Apple iPhone 4 running iOS 4.1, Opera Mobile [for Android] held its ground."

Opera Mobile "provided me with a very smooth user interface experience and snappy action during my tests," writes Sturdevant.

The beta was tested on a Samsung Vibrant Android handset running on the T-Mobile network.

Opera Software released a beta version of its Opera Mini 5 mobile browser for Android in March. It followed up in April with Opera Mobile 10, released as a Linux-ready desktop version for developers.

The primary difference between Opera Mini and Opera Mobile is that Opera Mini's Opera Presto browser engine is hosted on an Opera server whereas the engine is onboard in Opera Mobile, says the story.

"Mini is smaller and sometimes faster, but also sometimes slightly less accurate at website rendition," writes Sturdevant.

The review had general praise for the Opera Mobile browser, and Sturdevant also liked the Opera Link service, which is available to Opera Mobile users to synchronize browser bookmarks. In addition, notes Sturdevant, referring to features such as password storage, "Opera Mobile browser takes customization to a rather extraordinary level."

More on Opera Mobile 10.1 for Android may be found at Opera Software, here.

Bing for Mobile Android available everywhere

Google now has a bit more search competition on its own Android platform, as Microsoft is expanding the reach of its Bing for Mobile Android app to all major U.S. mobile operators, says another eWEEK story.

Microsoft first released Bing for Mobile Android on Verizon, but that exclusive is now history, according to a Bing blog. "We are pleased to announce that we have just released the Bing App to all major U.S. mobile operators through Android Markets," says the blog.

The Bing app offers quick-access maps with listings of local businesses, a Favorites option, and "instant answers" for movie listings and flights, says the story. A mic option on the app's homepage is said to allow for voice search.

In January 2009, Microsoft reportedly paid Verizon $500 million to integrate Bing onto Verizon smartphones and feature phones. 

Fuze Meeting expands Android conferencing chops

On Nov. 11 Fuze Box launched Fuze Meeting for Android, a free web conferencing application aimed at "corporate road warriors," says another eWEEK report.

Pictured at right, the app works on phones and tablets based on Android 2.2, says the story. It has also been optimized for Samsung's now-shipping Galaxy Tab and will "work best on 1024 x 600 tablets for now," according to Fuze Box.

Fuze Meeting for Android includes VoIP support, and lets users view shared computer desktops from an Android phone or tablet, says the story. When the meeting host designates an Android attendee as a presenter, users can share video or image files.

However, the Android app is currently an attendee-only app, which means users can't initiate a meeting from the program. Fuze Box will upgrade the software to let traveling workers host meetings from the Android device in early 2011, says the company.

More information on Fuze Meeting may be found here.

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