Opera seeks 2nd place in browser market share
Sunday, 25. September 2005, 12:20:50
Washington Post
Closer Look
Browsers Battle for Second Place
By Mike Musgrove
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, September 25, 2005; Page F07
In the Internet-browser game, the idea of beating No. 1 Microsoft, whose Internet Explorer comes automatically bundled on most Windows computers, is so far out of reach that other players try for the next best thing: second place.
Opera, the Norway-based company that has created an alternative browser for computers and mobile devices, has visions of unseating Mozilla Corp., maker of the Firefox browser, for that second-place position.
To do that, Opera started doing last week what Microsoft and Mozilla ( http://www.mozilla.org/ ) have been doing for some time: giving away the flagship product. Previously, Opera ( http://www.opera.com/ ) had offered two versions of its desktop browser -- a free one supported by ads placed in the browser and a $39 ad-free version.
Giving away the product doesn't automatically mean the company will come into hard financial times. The browser has a built-in search function that allows users to consult Google without opening up another window. Every time a user searches through the Google tool, the search engine pays Opera.
Closer Look
Browsers Battle for Second Place
By Mike Musgrove
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, September 25, 2005; Page F07
In the Internet-browser game, the idea of beating No. 1 Microsoft, whose Internet Explorer comes automatically bundled on most Windows computers, is so far out of reach that other players try for the next best thing: second place.
Opera, the Norway-based company that has created an alternative browser for computers and mobile devices, has visions of unseating Mozilla Corp., maker of the Firefox browser, for that second-place position.
To do that, Opera started doing last week what Microsoft and Mozilla ( http://www.mozilla.org/ ) have been doing for some time: giving away the flagship product. Previously, Opera ( http://www.opera.com/ ) had offered two versions of its desktop browser -- a free one supported by ads placed in the browser and a $39 ad-free version.
Giving away the product doesn't automatically mean the company will come into hard financial times. The browser has a built-in search function that allows users to consult Google without opening up another window. Every time a user searches through the Google tool, the search engine pays Opera.
WIDGETIZE
Troels # 25. September 2005, 13:06
Dan Yurman # 25. September 2005, 16:41
[snip]
Despite the upcoming launch of IE, Opera said it considers Firefox its main rival.
“The plan now is to become the No. 2 browser in the market by getting higher market share than Firefox,” said Mr. von Tetzchner. “We would like to be No. 1, but toppling Microsoft will be tough.”
[snip