Opera focuses on browsers for TV sets

MUMBAI, INDIA: Norwegian firm Opera Software, the Opera web browser developer, is banking on the growing number of mobile Internet users and TV sets to drive browser usage.

“We are an European company, very unique compared to competitors such as Microsoft, Google and Apple with our strong focus on Internet users accessing on mobile devices as well as personal computers. We are looking at the next billion users that will access Internet on mobile,” says Hakon Wium Lie, Opera Software ASA CTO. 

Globally, Opera web browser is used by some 150-200 million people, largely in the emerging countries. Russia tops with 30-40 per cent market share, followed by India and Indonesia.

According to Lie, Opera mini browser's compression feature is very unique and useful to users. “It sends traffic through Opera's server, which then compresses data and web pages; and sends it back to user's browser that saves time and money,” he explains.

He stresses Opera is the only browser maker that takes compression seriously and have the technology and infrastructure for doing it. In terms of benefits, the data compression allows users to save  money on data plans and time as well as telcos can utilize available spectrum for more users.

The man behind the Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) concept says, “Web is an very important thing. It's  just 20 years old and people are able to trust the web for banking, business, dating and so forth.”

“We want to bring browsers to all TVs. Just like how browser entered every mobile, it will enter every TV for browsing and will play important interface for users,” Lie says.

Lie, an active propagator and advocate of open standards for web, points that some vendors are trying to control users' choice by pre-bundling or installing proprietory web browsers.

“We need government support for allowing users to exercise their choice. Today users need to have their choice and Opera has an unique cross platform web browser technology to support users' choice and freedom,” he states.

Opera uses cross platform web browser technology that allows its browser to work across any platform  such as Windows, Mac and Linux used for phones, tablets and personal computers. “Some vendors are creating barriers, not allowing Opera applications and products. More and more vendors want to control the content on the web,” Lei lashes out at the proprietary vendors.

“We don't want people to live in silos and that's why we believe in open standards and interoperability. Though the situation is better than five years' ago, but still there are challenges for open standards,” he comments.  

While the Opera mini browser is freely available to users, the Oslo-based company works with parents such as operators, OEM vendors and game console makers on commercial basis.  In India, company works with Tata Indicom, Virgin Mobile, Vodafone and MTS, apart with local handset brands such Micromax, Lava, Olive, Fly, Videocon, ICE, Spice and others.