Norwegian-based Opera Software expects to add 100 million users, for use of its web browser in Microsoft handset hardware. What other deals could be taking place between Microsoft and Opera?
Opera is supplying its Mini browser for use in Nokia handsets, with Nokia's Xpress web browser being replaced by the Opera browser software. As part of the Microsoft agreement, Opera Mini will become the default browser on Microsoft's Asha and other existing feature phones.
India and other developing markets are big for Opera. The software incorporates text and video compression, key attributes in areas where existing networks are bandwidth limited. India is the biggest market for Opera, with 50 million monthly active users, one seventh of the company's 350 million global users. Opera is the third biggest application used by Indians on their cell phones and tablet computers, trailing only Facebook and WhatsApp, according to a company press release.
Opera says it plans to focus on improving its software technologies for content compression and enabling faster browsing. "We have more engineers working on browser technology," than Google and Apple, boasted Opera CEO Lars Boilesen.
While Opera Mini doesn't support WebRTC, the company's other browsers do, providing Opera (and Microsoft) with an upgrade path from feature phone usage to smart phones with high quality voice and video. There's also the possibility of Opera quietly doing work for Microsoft in order to accelerate the incorporation of WebRTC into Internet Explorer (IE) and other products.
Microsoft is on a WebRTC tear of sorts. At the end of October, the company announced it would roll WebRTC into IE, using the Skype brand and promoting codec support for H.264 video and G.722 voice. Skype for Web which was just recently announced needs a plug-in to work with IE, but native WebRTC support is in the pipeline.
If that wasn't enough, Microsoft Lync is getting a marketing remake in 2015 as Skype for Business. Expect WebRTC to be a big part of Lync's update to support Skype voice and video calls outside of the Lync, err Skype - as Business domain. Microsoft is going full bore in revising and updating its products to reflect its "Mobile first, cloud first" strategy and it is hard to tell when it will stop to take a breath.
Look for Skype for Business to use bits and pieces from the Skype user interface along with supporting HD voice and video. I expect a big Microsoft push/discussion this spring with Skype for Business operating both as a stand-alone software package, but also offering cloud and hybrid solutions for business continuity (and to put more people onto Microsoft's massive Azure cloud infrastructure).
Microsoft's moves with WebRTC have been so rapid that they have overtaken at least one session at the WebRTC Conference & Expo V happening this week in San Jose, Calif. "Can WebRTC Succeed without Microsoft and Apple?" is scheduled to occur on Wednesday, November 19, might be better renamed on-the-fly to "Has Microsoft gone WebRTC crazy?" or "When will Apple catch up to WebRTC?"
Edited by
Stefania Viscusi
