DJYSRV

A blog mostly about the Opera browser

Opera seeks 2nd place in browser market share

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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.

Opera VP Speaker at key mobile technology forumSUN - PCs are relics; mobile phones are the future

Comments

Troelstroels Sunday, September 25, 2005 1:06:38 PM

confused Where exactly does mr. Musgrove support his claim that "Opera... has visions of unseating Mozilla Corp., maker of the Firefox browser, for that second-place position." As far as I can see this is just his personal opinion that he states as a fact.

Dan Yurmandjysrv Sunday, September 25, 2005 4:41:43 PM

In this article from Red Herring at http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=13665&hed=Opera+Browser+Is+Now+Free+&sector=Industries&subsector=InternetAndServices and elsewhere in the computer trade press . . .

[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.”

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