Opera Mobile faces a new challenge
I consider Opera to be a much better web browser when compared to Mozilla Firefox.
But Firefox is kicking Opera’s ass when it comes to market share.
One of the biggest reasons behind this is that Opera Software decided to make their browser free a bit too late.
Mozilla took advantage of that fact and Firefox is now the second most popular web browser in the market.
Opera however still has a major presence in the mobile web browser segment.
However, with Mozilla all set to launch the Firefox Mobile edition later this year, it’s time for Opera to consider making their browser for mobiles a free offering too.
The simple reason is that people buying mobile phones are not going to be too keen to pay for a mobile web browser product. Firefox Mobile when launched could become their number 1 choice.
Opera does provide Opera Mini for free. But that is not a fully functional web browser. Times are changing and people like to have a fully functional web on their mobile devices.
I might be wrong but we could see things repeating by this time next year.
Forgot to include the link in my previous post:
http://www.appscout.com/2007/03/sxsw_browser_wars_redux.php
Brendan Eich, CTO of Mozilla, had this to say during SXSW last week:
“The Web doesn’t really work on devices. In my opinion, the form factor is different in a way that doesn’t facilitate browsing. The carriers have a lock on what’s on your phone, and there’s a walled garden that the carriers control. And if you click on a link that takes you outside that walled garden, the experience sucks, even on Opera.”
So, I wouldn’t hold my breath for Firefox Mini.
Oh and ofcourse, the experience does not suck on Opera. Eich doesn’t know what he is talking about.
Forgot to include the link in my previous post:
http://www.appscout.com/2007/03/sxsw_browser_wa...
Brendan Eich, CTO of Mozilla, had this to say during SXSW last week:
“The Web doesn’t really work on devices. In my opinion, the form factor is different in a way that doesn’t facilitate browsing. The carriers have a lock on what’s on your phone, and there’s a walled garden that the carriers control. And if you click on a link that takes you outside that walled garden, the experience sucks, even on Opera.”
So, I wouldn’t hold my breath for Firefox Mini.
Oh and ofcourse, the experience does not suck on Opera. Eich doesn’t know what he is talking about.
while it was a factor, i dont consider opera being freed too late the main reason for its lower market/mindshare. its because of the “free software” (open source) aspect that firefox has so much hype and acceptance, because there are so many GPL fanboys out there and they spread their enthusiasm.
if opera were to release a GPL’d version, it would start catching up to FF
while it was a factor, i dont consider opera being freed too late the main reason for its lower market/mindshare. its because of the “free software” (open source) aspect that firefox has so much hype and acceptance, because there are so many GPL fanboys out there and they spread their enthusiasm.
if opera were to release a GPL’d version, it would start catching up to FF