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Opera Software is a Norwegian corporation, primarily known for its Opera (desktop web browser) and Opera family of mobile web browsers. Opera Mini is currently the most popular mobile web browser in the world. Opera Software is also involved in promoting Web standards through participation in the World Wide Web Consortium|W3C. The company has its headquarters in Oslo, Norway, and is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange. The company also has offices in Sweden, People's Republic of China|China, India, Japan, South Korea|Korea, Poland, Czech Republic and the United States|USA.

'''Opera Software''' is a Norwegian corporation, primarily known for its Opera (desktop web browser) and Opera family of mobile web browsers. Opera Mini is currently the most popular mobile web browser in the world. Opera Software is also involved in promoting Web standards through participation in the World Wide Web Consortium|W3C. The company has its headquarters in Oslo, Norway, and is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange. The company also has offices in Sweden, People's Republic of China|China, India, Japan, South Korea|Korea, Poland, Czech Republic and the United States|USA.

Opera's stated vision is "to deliver the best Internet experience on any device."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opera.com/company/about/ |title=About Opera |publisher=Opera Software |accessdate=2007-10-11}}</ref>

Opera's stated vision is "to deliver the best Internet experience on any device."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opera.com/company/about/ |title=About Opera |publisher=Opera Software |accessdate=2007-10-11}}</ref>

== History ==

== History ==

Opera Software was founded as an independent company on August 30 1995 by Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner and Geir Ivarsøy.<ref name="milestones">[http://www.opera.com/company/about/milestones/ Opera Software - Milestones<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The company was created to continue what was originally a research project at Telenor, the largest Norwegian telecommunications company.

Opera Software was founded as an independent company on August 30, 1995 by Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner and Geir Ivarsøy.<ref name="milestones">[http://www.opera.com/company/about/milestones/ Opera Software - Milestones<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The company was created to continue what was originally a research project at Telenor, the largest Norwegian telecommunications company.

Opera Software's first product, the Opera (web browser)|Opera web browser version 2.1 for Microsoft Windows|Windows, was released in 1997. Opera Software had an Initial public offering (IPO) in February 2004, and was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange March 11 2004.<ref name="milestones" />

Opera Software's first product, the Opera (web browser)|Opera web browser version 2.1 for Microsoft Windows|Windows, was released in 1997. Opera Software had an Initial public offering (IPO) in February 2004, and was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange March 11, 2004.<ref name="milestones" />

In an attempt to capitalize on the emerging market for Internet-connected handheld devices, a project to port the Opera browser to more platforms was started in 1998.<ref name="milestones"/> Opera 4.0, released in 2000,<ref name="Affiliated">{{cite web |url=http://www.foxkeh.com/downloads/history/history-original.pdf |title=Affiliated Organization of Firefox and Mozilla|publisher=Mozilla Japan |year=2006 |accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref> included a new cross-platform core that facilitated creation of editions of Opera for multiple operating systems and Platform (computing)|platforms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.markschenk.com/opera/history.html |title=Opera browser version history |last=Schenk |first=Mark |date=2007-01-06 |accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref>

In an attempt to capitalize on the emerging market for Internet-connected handheld devices, a project to port the Opera browser to more platforms was started in 1998.<ref name="milestones"/> Opera 4.0, released in 2000,<ref name="Affiliated">{{cite web |url=http://www.foxkeh.com/downloads/history/history-original.pdf |title=Affiliated Organization of Firefox and Mozilla|publisher=Mozilla Japan |year=2006 |accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref> included a new cross-platform core that facilitated creation of editions of Opera for multiple operating systems and Platform (computing)|platforms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.markschenk.com/opera/history.html |title=Opera browser version history |last=Schenk |first=Mark |date=2007-01-06 |accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref>

With version 8.5 (released in 2005) the advertisements were removed entirely and primary financial support came through revenue from Google (which is by contract Opera's default search engine).<ref name="Baker">{{cite news |url=http://www.searchenginejournal.com/opera-goes-free-with-help-from-google/2227/ |title=Opera Goes Free with Help from Google |last=Baker |first=Loren |publisher=Search Engine Journal |date=2005-09-20 |accessdate=2007-10-12}}</ref>

With version 8.5 (released in 2005) the advertisements were removed entirely and primary financial support came through revenue from Google (which is by contract Opera's default search engine).<ref name="Baker">{{cite news |url=http://www.searchenginejournal.com/opera-goes-free-with-help-from-google/2227/ |title=Opera Goes Free with Help from Google |last=Baker |first=Loren |publisher=Search Engine Journal |date=2005-09-20 |accessdate=2007-10-12}}</ref>

The introduction in August 2005 of "Opera Mini", a Java ME based web browser for mobile phones marketed not to end users but to mobile network operators, possibly marks a new direction towards directly revenue-generating business, making the company less dependent on give-away and advertising-based Internet software.<ref>[http://www.opera.com/pressreleases/en/2005/08/10/ Have WAP but want WEB? Introducing Opera Mini for mobile phones], URL accessed on 20 April, 2006</ref>

The introduction in August 2005 of "Opera Mini", a Java ME based web browser for mobile phones marketed not to end users but to mobile network operators, possibly marks a new direction towards directly revenue-generating business, making the company less dependent on give-away and advertising-based Internet software.<ref>[http://www.opera.com/pressreleases/en/2005/08/10/ Have WAP but want WEB? Introducing Opera Mini for mobile phones], URL accessed on 20 April 2006</ref>

On September 20 2005, Opera announced that it would remove the advertising from its browser and remain free of charge. Although Opera was free to download and use before this change, it had previously displayed an advertising banner unless the user purchased a license. The move was made in the hope that it would prompt more users to switch to the Opera browser.<ref>[http://www.opera.com/pressreleases/en/2005/09/20/ Feel Free: Opera Eliminates Ad Banner and Licensing Fee]</ref> However, Opera does continue to charge for its "Opera Mobile" product which runs on many Mobile devices.<ref>[http://www.opera.com/buy/?show=mobile Buy Opera]</ref>

On September 20, 2005, Opera announced that it would remove the advertising from its browser and remain free of charge. Although Opera was free to download and use before this change, it had previously displayed an advertising banner unless the user purchased a license. The move was made in the hope that it would prompt more users to switch to the Opera browser.<ref>[http://www.opera.com/pressreleases/en/2005/09/20/ Feel Free: Opera Eliminates Ad Banner and Licensing Fee]</ref> However, Opera does continue to charge for its "Opera Mobile" product which runs on many Mobile devices.<ref>[http://www.opera.com/buy/?show=mobile Buy Opera]</ref>

== Legal issues ==

== Legal issues ==

:''Details are confidential pursuant to the settlement agreement.''

:''Details are confidential pursuant to the settlement agreement.''

It is widely theorized that the 'international corporation' named above is Microsoft,<ref>[http://news.com.com/Microsoft+behind+%2412+million+payment+to+Opera/2100-1032_3-5218163.html Microsoft behind $12 million payment to Opera], URL access on 20 April, 2006.</ref> who had previously blocked Opera users from correctly viewing MSN.com.

It is widely theorized that the 'international corporation' named above is Microsoft,<ref>[http://news.com.com/Microsoft+behind+%2412+million+payment+to+Opera/2100-1032_3-5218163.html Microsoft behind $12 million payment to Opera], URL access on 20 April 2006.</ref> who had previously blocked Opera users from correctly viewing MSN.com.

In 2007 Opera filed a complaint against Microsoft in the European Commission, alleging that bundling Internet Explorer with Microsoft Windows is harmful to both the consumer and to other web browser companies.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=7332 |title=Opera files complaint against Microsoft in the EU over IE, Windows bundle; CTO makes Web standards case |last=Dignan |first=Larry |publisher=ZDNet |date=2007-12-13 |accessdate=2007-12-15}}</ref>

In 2007 Opera filed a complaint against Microsoft in the European Commission, alleging that bundling Internet Explorer with Microsoft Windows is harmful to both the consumer and to other web browser companies.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=7332 |title=Opera files complaint against Microsoft in the EU over IE, Windows bundle; CTO makes Web standards case |last=Dignan |first=Larry |publisher=ZDNet |date=2007-12-13 |accessdate=2007-12-15}}</ref>