Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • IT Management

    Opera Axes Ad Model, Patches Browser

    By
    Elizabeth Millard
    -
    September 20, 2005
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Web browser developer Opera Software has permanently removed the ad banner and licensing fee from its Web browser, focusing instead on creating revenue from integrated search functionality.

      “It feels good to be able to do this, because we think it will give users a better experience,” said Opera communications director Tor Odland. “For us, it will help us increase market share and make ourselves available to those outside the technological world.”

      The strategy shift was possible as a result of a boost in its search-related revenue stream, noted Odland. In the past, Opera relied on search as only one part of its model but has now made agreements with search firms like Google, allowing the company to drop banner ads and user fees.

      Opera also expects to gain revenue through its fee-based support services, which are available to users for $35 per year.

      In making the shift, the company expressed confidence that more users will soon be singing Operas praises.

      “Its an excellent time for browsers that are an alternative to Internet Explorer,” Odland noted. “Were joining Firefox in the crusade to win IE users.”

      Currently, Opera commands a very thin slice of the browser market pie, noted WebSideStory analyst Geoff Johnston. Operas numbers are tricky to pinpoint due to some browser cloaking tactics the company uses to be compatible with Web applications, but Johnston estimates that the browser commands between 0.5 percent and 1.5 percent of the market.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifOpera goes barebones for WAP phones. Click here to read more.

      Although it has expressed kinship with Firefox, Opera may actually find that it will have to battle that browser for more market share rather than IE, Johnston said.

      “At one point, Opera had the room to eat away at IEs market, but it could be that now its too late,” he said. “Adoption with Firefox is slowing as the early adopter crowd is drying up. That means Opera and Firefox will have to compete for the mainstream, where there are fewer converts available for alternative browsers.”

      In addition to its model change, Opera also noted that two security vulnerabilities reported by Secunia on Tuesday have been patched in the most recent browser, Opera 8.50.

      Rated as “moderately critical,” the flaws are in the Opera Mail client, and can be exploited to spoof the name of attached files and to conduct script insertion attacks.

      In its fix, Opera noted attachment URLs are now used instead of cache URLs for viewing attachments.

      Other security changes include a fix for a drag-and-drop vulnerability that allowed unintentional file uploads and improvements to handling of must-revalidate cache directive for HTTPS pages.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, reviews and analysis about productivity and business solutions.

      Elizabeth Millard
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×