Opera Mobile

My previous blogpost has sparked some interest that resulted in various comments in this and other blogs. Some are supportive, others are concerned about my opinions about the S60 browser. I am happy that my words encouraged people to voice their viewpoints in the important debate on mobile browsing.

In this blog I write about my personal opinions. Although I cannot free myself from my role as PR manager at Opera, this is where I allow myself to talk more freely about current issues in mobile browsing and what we're doing at Opera. This in itself introduces an interesting challenge requiring a reasonable balance between being an Opera employee and being the individual that is me. I always keep that in mind when I write.

The Register's article I was refering to was very candid, and, as usual, Andrew doesn't beat around the bush. I found the image he conjured on browsing in hell amusing, and my comment was merely a comment to that. My personal experience with the S60 browser is, at best, secondary to the essence of the debate on mobile browsing. Neither Andrew's article nor my comments to it, are by any means thorough reviews of the browser. My comment to his article was merely a superficial observation from the sideline of the ongoing debate on mobile browsing.

The mobile browser is becoming one of the most central applications and major selling points on mobile phones. As such, any initiative to develop and improve browsers and encourage Web developers to code with mobile handsets in mind, greatly benefits us all. Having multiple, competing browser vendors and a stronger focus on the importance of a mobile friendly Web means we are improving the mobile Web experience for end-users every day. As long as Web pages are designed for desktop-sized screens, showing them on small devices is one of the most important challenges for a browser developer. In addition, a good user experience is dependent on how quickly and efficiently the browser can render pages and how easy it is to use.

There is no such thing as a perfect browser, just as there is no such thing as a perfect car. Disregarding the critical performance factors, it really boils down to personal preference if all one evaluates is how good the browser is to surf with. Some prefer the S60 browser, some prefer Opera Mobile or Opera Mini, and some prefer other browsers. And people should have that choice. My personal preference, as expressed in my blog post, is Opera - for a number of reasons, mainly its speed, standards compliance and rendering technology. Plus the fact that it is cross-platform and serves as a powerful execution environment for advanced Web applications. That I prefer Opera is perhaps no surprise, but it's not important. The S60 browser does have qualities that I do like, for example the Mini Map function and being able go back and forward by viewing page thumbnails.

I warmly welcome competition, as it only makes us work even harder to continuously improve our products and bring innovation to the browser scene.

The Opera Mobile browser is included on the two new phones from Motorola, the MOTORAZR xx and the MOTORAZR maxx. Both devices are based on Motorola`s own operating system, P2K, targeting the mass market. They are also the two first P2K-based Motorola phones to include the Opera Mobile browser.

More information about the phones.

Opera Software today announced that the Opera browser is included on the new Nokia N72 mobile phone. The Nokia N72 is a stylish and powerful multimedia phone with a 2 megapixel camera, integrated digital music player, FM radio and the Opera Mobile browser.

Opera and Nokia signed a renewed software licensing agreement which was announced on the Oslo Stock Exchange on March 31, 2006.

More information on the Nokia N72:
http://www.nokia.com/A4136001?newsid=1053633

T-Mobile has hired Robbie Williams to front their Web'n'Walk offering. Because Opera Mobile is powering several of the Web'n'Walk phones, a leading Norwegian news site, NA24, wrote an article with the headline above. A good angle, if I ever saw one:up: !

Now that T-Mobile has also signed up to pre-install Opera Mini on several of their feature phones, they are expanding their Web'n'Walk offering across their entire customer base beyond the smartphone segment. This is, of course, great for Opera.

But what I really like here is that T-Mobile is spending a gazzilion Euros on promoting mobile Web surfing. This speaks volumes about how important the mobile Web, and thus the mobile Web browser, is to one of the world's leading operators.

So let this be a clear hint to all the operators in the world: People do not like to be confined to walled gardens or offered limited and poor content. Open the gates and let people surf. There is ONE Internet, and it should be accessible regardless of device.

There, I said it.

Now, let Robbie and Opera entertain you!

The Opera shares reached an all-time high today. The reason seems to be our two latest announcements of two very important contracts - one with T-Mobile and one with Debitel, a leading European telecoms service provider, both showing the compelling importance and value of offering a mobile Web browser on handsets.

T-Mobile: Will pre-install Opera Mini on three high-volume feature phones, with more to come, thus expanding their Web'n'Walk offering to their entire customer base. [stock announcement]

debitel: Will utilize Opera's entire portfolio of mobile solutions (Opera Mini, Opera Mobile and Opera Platform) across their entire device portfolio over the next two years. [stock announcement]

This really shows what we have been saying for a long time - that mobile Internet is really here, and when two such major operators choose Opera for their devices it is a testament to the quality of our products and ability to deliver.