Opera: Browser Choice Screen Rolls Out To 200 Million Web Users

Oslo, Norway - March 2, 2010 -- Starting immediately, Microsoft is promoting alternative browsers to millions of Windows users across Europe. One of the top alternatives in the Choice Screen is the Opera browser.

"200 million Europeans now have a chance to find a new browser. We are convinced that people who try Opera will see that our product is better, because it is fast, powerful, easy to use and has the best security record in the industry," said Jon von Tetzchner, Co-founder, Opera.

Key features of the Opera browser include:

* Speed: Opera is known as the "fastest browser on Earth" and the latest version wins in open speed tests.
* Security: Opera has the strongest security record among all the leading Web browsers.
* Opera Turbo: Boost your speed on slow networks with our powerful servers to get you Web pages faster.
* Visual tabs: Drag the handle underneath the tabs to reveal thumbnails of your open Web pages.
* Customizable Speed Dial: Get easy access to your favorite sites every time you open a new tab.
* Opera Link: Synchronize your Speed Dial, bookmarks, notes and other useful data across all your devices.

"Today is a victory for choice on the Web and the myriad benefits choice brings," said Håkon Wium Lie, CTO, Opera. "The Choice Screen is a critical milestone in the evolution of the Web, for Web users, Web developers and everyone else who wants to see the Web remain a healthy platform for innovation, information and communication."
How we got here:

After Opera asked the European Commission to investigate the lack of competition in the Web browser playing field, Microsoft agreed to distribute other browsers in December 2009.

Resources:

Last week, in the spirit of free choice, the Opera community invited fans of other browsers makers to submit and vote for the best browsers. Already, thousands of fans have shared their opinions on my.opera.com/community/choice/.

EU Choice Screen page: www.browserchoice.eu

Source: Opera Software ASA