Update: Google spokesperson emailed and said, no comment and that this is just a rumor. Opera spokesperson was even more blunt and said: “This is just as new to me as it is to you. We do not know of any such plans.”
Pierre Chappaz, former head of Yahoo Europe, on his french language blog says that Google might be interested in buying Opera. (Translation of the original post here) This would be a response to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer etc etc etc. In other words … a pure and absolute rumor for now. Gary Price has more details on this. Previously I had posted how Google had helped Opera become a free software.
Apparently, the premier tenant for browser’s built-in search window, is Google. “The current most important deal now is with Google,” company spokesperson Eskil Siversten wrote in an email. The company indicated that it has similar referral-for-dollars agreements with the likes of eBay and Amazon. Given that Opera is about one percent of the total browser market, it cannot be making as much money as Mozilla folks.
Given how close Google is with the Firefox community, this one just doesn’t make sense. However, Google could benefit from Opera’s strong presence in the mobile space, where it is beating everyone to the punch. Nokia bundles Opera in most of its new phones including the red hot N-Series phones. In Japan, the ultimate mobile society, Opera is beginning to have an impact. Jon von Tetzchner, CEO of Oslo-based Opera Software in an interview with Business 2.0 had said that wireless was the area of focus for the company.
Google has been severely trailing Yahoo in the wireless space, and this would be a good way to even things out a little. Opera could bring Google closer to the carriers. But I repeat, this is all idle speculation on a rumor that is not even in my second language - so treat it accordingly. Rest assured, emails have been sent to the media relations departments of both the companies.
18 comments so far
4:55 PM PT
[...] Om Malik and others are reporting on rumours that Google are out to purchase Opera - the third browser in the market. If the rumour isn’t true, it should be, as it makes sense for Google to move into the browser market. If they do aquire Opera, I doubt they would keep it as an ordinary browser and push it to Google users. I expect that they will do some special things with Opera: [...]
5:37 PM PT
Given that Google employ several key members of the Firefox team (as well as the lead Camino developer) - I would have to assume this is a mobile-specific play - which is a smart move, as they lag there.
That said, I wonder about the fate of Minimo, Mozilla’s mobile browser…I thought Google and Nokia were the key forces behind that one…interesting times, no matter what. ;)
7:30 PM PT
Google going to the Opera? Unlikely
Everyone loves a hot rumour, especially about a takeover involving Google — and the hot rumour du jour is that the search company is going to buy Opera, the upstart browser maker. That’s according to Pierre Chappaz, former head of Yahoo Eu…
11:06 PM PT
I think this rumour was started by an Yahoo Europe main honcho. Even if for a second, we agree that Google may indeed acquire Opera (maybe, for its excellent Mobile browser), what about its support for Firefox? Remember, there was talk in January 2005, about Google launching a browser. A tough cookie indeed.
11:46 PM PT
[...] Opera ã?«ã?¤ã?„ã?¦ã?¯ Googleã?‹ã‚‰ã?®å?Žå…¥ã?Œãƒ‘ッケージå?Žå…¥ã‚’上回る ã?¨ã‚‚ä¼?ã?ˆã‚‰ã‚Œã?¦ã?„ã‚‹ã?Œã€?ã?•ã‚‰ã?«ã??れを買å?Žé‡‘é¡?ã?Œä¸Šå›žã‚‹ã?“ã?¨ã?«ã?ªã‚‹ã?‹ã‚‚ã?—ã‚Œã?ªã?„。Yahoo! Europe ã?®å‰?社長 Pierre Chappaz ã?Œå½¼ã?® blog ã?§ã€ŒGoogle ã?Œ Opera ã‚’è²·å?Žã?™ã‚‹ã‚‰ã?—ã?„ã€?ã?¨æ›¸ã?„ã?Ÿã?Ÿã‚?ã€?Search Engine Watch ã‚„ Om Marik ã?ªã?©ã?Œé¨’ã?„ã?§ã?„る。ã?¨ã?¯è¨€ã?£ã?¦ã‚‚ç?¾æ™‚点ã?§ã?¯ã?¾ã? 噂ã?®åŸŸã‚’出ã?¦ã?„ã?ªã?„。 [...]
11:52 PM PT
Makes no sense at all.
5:51 AM PT
Who is Pierre Chappaz in the first place?
7:50 AM PT
Not far-fetched at all…I don’t think.
Imagine, if Google creates a web-based (browser) OS which is bootable on any machine/terminal/kiosk using USB. All that is needed is TCP/IP. It boots into a browswer platform for internet access and you can use web-based programs like Google Office/Google Base for creating documents and storing personal (or public) files. No need to have desktop resources…the USB holds all system config files to load into your profile and then all computing is done through Google browser, like you are using a normal computer with no TCP/IP connection.
The terminals/kiosk are found everywhere like ATM machines, using wireless access (Google Wi-fi).
I can see it happening. The day the MS desktop OS goes to a browser (web-based) OS. And I say this, while being a big FAN of Microsoft. I’m sure MS is possibly headed in the same direction. — Windows Live.
10:17 AM PT
Good for Google sponsoring competition
If Google were in fact to buy out Opera it would be a tremendous gain for the browser market because of the increased competition that it would provide. Some of the comments from the News.com blog post seem to miss…
10:28 AM PT
Great! I love Opera. In fact I think Opera is better than Firefox!
1:35 PM PT
[...] While I am on the subject of Firefox Extensions, Google has pushed some more goodies into their ‘technology playground’ they call Google Labs. With two Extensions released yesterday, Google is continuing to promote Firefox as the web browser of choice - surely simmering rumours of a possible Opera acquisition. Google Safe Browsing and Blogger Web Comments have hit the Beta stage of testing, the point where Google has found that people make the most fuss about them, and are freely available to download. [...]
2:26 PM PT
[...] First, if and when Google buys Opera, what will it do with its strong partnership with Mozilla (i.e. Firefox)? I guess Google will end up alienating those who are using Firefox and loving the Google Toolbar in it. Besides, their Firefox/Google Toolbar referral program is a strong indication that their support is with Mozilla. Then, they’ve hired Firefox developers left and right (and I think still looking for some more). [...]
5:29 PM PT
Opera = GBrower?
最近一直传闻说Google将收è´ÂOperaæµÂ?览器(最åÂ?¯ä¿¡çš„ä¼ é—»æÂ?¥è‡ªYahoo欧洲å‰Â?总è£Â?Pierre Chappaz)，如果收è´ÂæˆÂ?功的è¯Â?，é…
4:31 AM PT
The deal makes no sense at all if one considers desktop browsers, but Google are way behind in the mobile game, and Opera’s mobile browsers and their mobile Ajax environment are leading edge stuff and would certainly enhance Google’s steps towards mobility.
Opera’s browser doesn’t come on all the Nokia Nseries handsets, only on the very first ones (N70, N90), the newer and more interesting devices will have the new WebCore based browser - http://s60.com/browser - as the default browser.
10:54 AM PT
[...] Other sources regarding the rumor: - start - PC World - OM Malik´s Blog Technorati Tags: google opera browser rumors [...]
1:47 PM PT
opera is great as a browser….its so lite on my system..firefox crashes a lot these days..
firefox is better than IE but not better than opera
i am a opera fan for a longtime.
google should buy opera and it will rule the world of browsers
1:23 AM PT
Opera is a pretty cool browser. When I compare it to Firefox and Internet Explorer, it seems more responsive and feels ‘light-weight’. There is a time when you upload files that the CPU usage goes up insanely but that’s pretty much uncommon for me as I don’t send out too many attachments or upload files… the most I do is fill-in text forms by typing into them.
6:43 AM PT
Good for Google sponsoring competition…
If Google were in fact to buy out Opera it would be a tremendous gain for the browser market because of the increased competition that it would provide. Some of the comments from the News.com blog post seem to miss…
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