Telenor and Opera to co-operate on mobile Internet

The Telenor Group and Opera Software have announced a non–exclusive Global Framework Agreement aiming to stimulate rapid growth of mobile Internet services across Telenor’s business units.

Telenor’s business units can co-brand, distribute and run the Opera Mini mobile browser across its mobile handset and subscriber portfolios. Opera Mini is the world's most popular mobile phone browser with 60 million monthly users.

As part of the Global Frame Agreement, Opera and Telenor will also work to further innovate and expand the scope of the mobile web.

 “Telenor has a vision to provide mobile Internet with a great user experience to everyone. We are confident that this agreement will help us provide Internet to a larger user group across the world. “ said Morten Karlsen Sørby, EVP and Head of Corporate Development, Telenor Group,“ We are thrilled to work closely with Opera, a company that spun out of Telenor in the late 1990s, and have grown to become one of Norway’s most successful technology exports.”

“Our goal is simple: help Telenor grow its user base and revenues by delivering an unparalleled Internet experience to every local operator in the Telenor network. Telenor’s strong global position is a result of their relentless commitment to the customer, in markets as diverse as Sweden, Russia, Bangladesh and Hungary,” said Lars Boilesen, CEO in Opera. “We are proud of our heritage from Telenor’s research labs. Today, we join efforts to give more people the opportunity to fully enjoy the web on their mobile phones.”

The first deployment of Opera Mini in the Telenor network is scheduled for September.Telenor Group is one of the world’s major mobile operators with 184 million mobile subscriptions (per Q2 2010), revenues in 2009 of NOK 98 billion, and a workforce of approximately 40,000 employees.

Opera Software ASA has redefined web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices around the world.

(Press release)

Friday, 27 August 2010 06:42