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Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera Software explains "our companies have enjoyed a long history together, and this represents a huge step forward for both of the companies. We have worked closely with the Microsoft Devices Group on this project, to make sure the users of Nokia X affordable smartphones can have the best web browsing experience right out of the box".



The company touts the following benefits of its browser:




  • Opera Turbo, a cost and time-saving feature that compresses data before it reaches the user's mobile device. By switching on compression with Opera Turbo, webpages are compressed by Opera servers, resulting in a dramatic reduction in the amount of data transferred. For users on a pay-as-you-go data plan, or roaming while traveling, the savings can be significant.
  • The Discover feature, a novel way of finding content that users find interesting. Gathered from hundreds of websites all over the world, the Discover feature offers the cream of the crop in fresh content. It's customizable and easy to set preferences - the list can be sorted by country and topic - and get going with thousands of articles at a thumb's reach.
  • Speed Dial, an Opera Software innovation, has been perfected for the smartphone world. By letting the user save, move and organize Speed Dial entries into folders, Opera for Android lets users keep better track of sites they find interesting -- and get to them faster.
While Microsoft releasing a handset powered by a rival's operating system is shocking on its own, getting in bed with Opera is rather surprising too. They aren't necessarily bad moves -- both are sound from the perspective of diversity and covering all bases, but at what cost? This could send a message to the Windows Phone and Internet Explorer faithful that the company's eyes are wandering.

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I am not so sure this signals that Microsoft's 'eyes are wandering' as much as admitting that their own Windows Phone and IE are just about to require Life Support ROFL  🙂
Wow, that is a surprising development.  I'd never have guessed that one in a million years!
So we need to get the "paddles" out and restart the heart? Like you, I'm a little surprised.
The following article is a update on Opera as default browser Android phones

(Opera Mini becomes default browser for Microsoft's fading feature phones

 

By Gregg KeizerAugust 21, 2014 12:39 PM ET Computerworld - Opera Software and Microsoft have struck a deal that will replace Nokia's Xpress browser with Opera Mini on Microsoft's dying line of feature phones.

Also on Thursday, Opera announced its second-quarter earnings, saying that revenue was up 38% year-over-year, to $101 million for the period.

"The agreement with Opera will enable us to provide continuity of service as we transition from Xpress Browser to Opera Mini," Rich Bernardo, who leads the legacy phone business at Microsoft, said in a statement Thursday.

"We have signed a strategic licensing deal with Microsoft. We are basically taking over the browser building department in Nokia," Opera CEO Lars Boilsesen said during a news conference today that focused on the firm's second-quarter earnings. "This means that Opera Mini becomes the default browser for Microsoft's feature phone product lines and the Asha phones product. ComputerWorld/ full article here/ http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9250561/Opera_Mini_becomes_default_browser_for_Microsoft_s_fading_feature_phones

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