Rumor Days: Google Aquiring Opera

Ouriel pointed out to me already yesterday through Pierre Chapaz the rumor that Google is acquiring the Norwegian browser Opera. The talk about Google going into the browser business has been echoed for quite a while and if the acquire Opera - they will definitely boost those plans without having to build one from scratch as well as getting a foot in the mobile browser market, which is actually the place where Opera is a key player. Gary Price has more on the story here. He also mentioned how Google have recruited several key people from the Mozilla Foundation and are still very agressively trying to get more people from the Firefox crew to join (something I have heard several times directly from Firefox people). There is no doubt that the browser war has started all over again - and that is good. It will drive the development for better browsers, something that will benefit us all. I believe that this will help boost Maxthon as well - keep your eyes open. Maxthon is going to become big next year...

Technorati Tags: Opera, Google, Maxthon, Firefox, Mozilla, Browser

Comments

[Omar Upegui R.]

Hi:

I've been reading this rumor regularly in Blogosphere today. I can't wait to receive confirmation that a formal deal has been made.

As you mentioned, it seems to be a logical move for Google in its strategic battle against Microsoft and Yahoo.

Microsoft has been lazy in updating Internet Explorer, and Yahoo has done zip to get into the browser business. That leaves Google to struggle with Microsoft and Mozilla. I would be a little sad for the Mozilla's people because they have worked so hard to keep Firefox in top shape. For me, it's the best browser around, and version 1.5 just made it better.

Will wait and see,

Cheers,

Omar.-