The internet company Yahoo! Japan has jumped into the mobile bandwagon and launched its own Android mobile browser called Yahoo Browser to cater the growing mobile users in the Japanese market that 60% accounts for new purchased smartphones using Android OS.

Yahoo! Japan Corporation is a different internet company from US-based Yahoo! but was initially formed as a joint venture between the Yahoo! and the Japanese internet company SoftBank in which Yahoo! Only controls around 35% stake of the Japanese company.

The mobile browser itself is said to have taken a lot of its features from the Opera Mini/Opera Mobile and the iOS browser. Among the features is of course the URL bar and Yahoo search, mail, and maps as well as “speed dial” homepage that you can also found at Opera Mini. It also integrates the Android’s features such as voice recognition, mobile and desktop views including the Ice Cream Sandwich quick buttons and read it later features to clip a webpage to go back and view later.

Yahoo! Japan move to create its own custom browser app is a big challenge for its competitor since unlike in other parts of the globe; Google is struggling against Yahoo! Japan in the said country. Google is earning from adverts on Android devices if the Google search engine is used but the entry of Yahoo browser in Japan will certainly spoil the fun.

Unlike Yahoo! Its Japanese counterpart is not getting hammered by its competitor Google but instead has been experiencing a comfortable lead against Google when it comes to advertising, payment and other services that saw Yahoo Japan’s sales hit $3.6 billion in its last fiscal year, giving it $1.15 billion in profit.

The Yahoo browser however is only formatted to be used on smartphones but it will function also on Android tablets and the app is only available for Japanese users. You can check and download the app by visiting this link.

Via Android Community, 9to5Google, The Next Web