Rumors are trickling through the blogosphere that Google is going to buy Opera. It’s been rumored for some time that Google was working on its own Web browser, thought to be based on open-source software like Mozilla, reflecting its apparent preference to build its own software when possible rather than buying it. But to see this as just about a PC browser is missing the point: this buy would be all about mobile.
Until the release of Google Local for Mobile, the Goog’s mobile offerings were pretty wimpy. They’re still pretty uneven and incomplete, but Opera could change that. Not just with its mobile browsers, which are as good as they come — particularly Opera Mini — but with the Opera Platform it announced last month. Just as Yahoo Mobile offers a ton of individual services, Google could do the same relatively quickly and easily by using the Opera Platform to build its services.
But, again, why buy? Two reasons. First, when Opera changed their business model and made their PC browser free, it was because they started taking search referral payments from the likes of Amazon, eBay and… Google — the biggest and most important contributor to Opera’s revenues. So, in some sense, it’s relatively cheap for Google to buy Opera when it saves referral payments.
The second, and biggest reason, again, is mobile. There’s a benefit to controlling such a powerful technology on what’s becoming such an important medium — and mobile is only going to get more important. But keep in mind what are Opera’s most significant relationships: deals to get its browser on handsets from some of the world’s top mobile phone manufacturers. That would be instant traction for Google on some very big real estate.
It seems that both Yahoo and Google are making giant steps toward the mobile market. First Yahoo announced its entrance to the wireless world with an MVNO on Nokia‚Äôs handsets on Cingular’s network (but without mobile carrier itself). Yahoo was followed by Google‚Äôs launch of mobile services like Google Maps, Google Local Search, and followed by the latest rumor of Google buying Opera.
Things are getting tight there! It will be interesting to see Yahoo’s next step on the mobile market after all the latest acquisitions of web community services, new VoIP services, and new RSS to SMS application.
Google Set to Buy Opera?
Rumors are flying around that Opera will be acquired by Google. This, in a nutshell, would make me a very happy techie indeed. I love Opera. There is no doubt in my mind that it is the best browser I…
Google Set to Buy Opera?
Rumors are flying around that Opera will be acquired by Google. This, in a nutshell, would make me a very happy techie indeed. I love Opera. There is no doubt in my mind that it is the best browser I…
Hmmm. Well… I don’t know mobile all that well.
Is platform the problem? I would think Google is trying to figure out how to enter and sustain advantage in the market.
This means coming up with killer apps with coordination to ensure that the can be integrated in the back end AND the front end.
So, given all that… why would Opera, which can provide only eyeballs, be a good match?
the “Google Mobile” which was released today will be a good entre to get a small uber-user group toe-deep into using their mobiles for non calls… and then experiment with new features on them.
In their larger strategy, I can’t see why google would move until a.) they get the contract to “mobilise” SF, or b.) they find a ripe market that Yahoo could capture (in Japan maybe?)