Google Opera Acquisition Rumor Makes Sense
There is a rumor floating around today that Google may be acquiring the Opera browser (and its 1% market share). Opera is an independent browser funded by search engine advertising. When someone performs a search on the Opera default search box, they are served partnered Google results. Opera’s revenue is based upon a percentage of the AdWords advertisements which are selected by Opera users.
The popularity of Opera and the success of a Google AdWords partnership led to Opera offering an advertisement free browser earlier in the year. Previously, Opera browsers were funded by in browser contextual or graphic display advertising. With Google monitoring the success and profitability of the Opera browser, along with Opera’s advanced functionality, the acquisition of the Opera company by Google seems a perfect fit.
Sushubh Mittal, an avid Opera user for over three years, also brings up a very good point about the Opera Google rumors:
“Opera also dominates the mobile browser market which is said to be the next big to target for the web based services and Google would like to have an upper hand over both Microsoft and Yahoo.
Mozilla is still working on their mobile browser solution and Opera makes more sense with its closed nature, which would enable Google to make a customized solution optimized for Google experience.”
Greg Sterling of the Kelsey Group also adds :
“Google’s toolbar and desktop search apps (including Sidebar) are moving in on offering browser-like tools and functionality without being a browser per se. If this rumor proves to be true, it would allow Google more control over the “virtual desktop” (since that’s what browsers are increasingly becoming) and more access to users/user behavior.”
To complicate the excitement of the search engine crowd and Opera & Google fanboys alike, Opera denies the rumor; “Rumors come and go. Google is not buying Opera.”
Opera’s revenue is not just based upon a percentage of the AdWords advertisements but also from sales of their other products such as Opera Mobile which sells for US$ 29 in addition to other products
http://www.opera.com/products/
–An avid Internet browser
It seems that both Opera and Google have denied such an acquisition. If you ask me, it doesn’t make sense at all. Google has been doing so much to promote Firefox lately and ensure that it grows in popularity. Google has hired some of the top Firefox developers to work for them and is even hiring people specifically to work on Firefox. If they were to purchase any web browser, it would be Firefox (although that is rather unlikely for other reasons).
Opera always satisfied the requirements of power user. Until Firefox launched it has been favourite tabbed browser for several power users. With its text ads or graphic ads Opera until recently got income through Google. But Google is targeting itself to mass public users than power users. The long term goal is to capture many desktops than a small percentage of power users. I dont think the rumour justifies its impetus.
I think Opera is a very poor browser. Last time I tried it, it kept crashing… and didn’t even accept drag n’ drops of Internet shortcut files…
Have you tried Firefox and several of its hundreds of extensions?
If you tried Mozilla before and were dissatisfied (like me), give the Mozilla Team a second chance and try Firefox 1.5 — it’s very, very good!
Firefox best features IMO: rock solid (never crashes), security holes fixed in a few days, and hundreds of add-ons (extensions).
Hope this isn’t like the Google PC Rumor!!
Opera is the best webBrowser (also irc/e-mail/rss_feeds client)
I was saying : Opera is the best webBrowser on windowsOS.
Mozilla Firefox has only 5 or 10 % of Opera’s Powerful and accessible features, and personnally, I will NEVER trust those extensions made by ‘anyone’.
Anyway, why trying to convince people like this ? I prefer that Opera remains as it is, instead of beconming mainstreeam and, you know..
Bye ;)