The Opera Browser main page is seen in a handout photo. REUTERS/Handout

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Opera Software’s Internet browser for Apple’s iPhone was downloaded more than one million times during the first day when it was available to consumers, the Norwegian firm said on Thursday.

On April 13 Apple accepted distribution of Opera’s browser for its iPhone after a long review, opening a new and potentially lucrative market it has so far closely guarded.

“Apple said ‘Yes’, and iPhone users around the world said, ‘Yes, please’,” Opera said in a statement.

Opera’s browser promises up to six times faster download speeds than Apple’s own browser, and to cut data traffic by up to 90 percent.

Massive data traffic from iPhone mobile phones has caused problems for many operators’ networks.