Japanese Opera in a box

Transware launches Japanese boxed version

Oslo, Norway, Tokyo, Japan - March 27, 2003

Transware Ltd., Opera Software's Japanese reseller, today began selling the Japanese version of Opera 7 for Windows in a special retail version. The retail box will be sold in Softmap stores all over Japan, as well as through Transware's Opera reseller Web site jp.opera.com.

Transware has had great success selling Opera in Japan so far, and the introduction of a new boxed version will help Opera to continue to attract new customers. Recently, Transware signed up the one of the largest univerities in Japan, the University of Tokyo, and more users are signing up every day.

"Many of our Japanese customers prefer to install Opera from a CD rather than downloading it," says Hiyoshi Kinoshita, CEO, Transware Ltd. "We are confident that we will increase Opera's market share in Japan by releasing this retail box version of Opera to our customers."

Opera's cross-platform availability and host of accessibility features, combined with strong IMAP support, a pop-up killer, and support for multiple users provides Opera with strong competitive advantages in the Japanese market. In addition to supporting all the necessary Web technologies, Opera has also incorporated increased support for major e-learning solutions in Opera 7.

"We are very excited to see an increasing number of Japanese users, universities and corporations choosing the best Internet experience," says Mary Lambert, product line manager desktop, Opera Software. "Transware's local knowledge of the Japanese market plays an important role in Opera's recent sales success in Japan. The new boxed version is a valuable addition to their Opera product line."

Availability

Users can purchase the Opera Browser retail box from Transware's Web page jp.opera.com.

Opera is available for free in an ad-supported version, but universities and colleges can register and enjoy the browser ad-free for a highly discounted license price. Since its inception, Opera has offered students licenses for a specially discounted price when they register the browser for their own personal use.

Please go to jp.opera.com for more information.

About Transware

Transware is a software development company based in Japan. They are a market leader in a development of web based E-mail software, called the Active! mail. As an innovative mail solution software, Active! mail has been receiving appraisals especially from universities and corporations, and is expanding it's share to private users with web mail hosting service "Active! mail.jp". Transware has begun the management of jp.opera.com starting from 2002 as the primary reseller of Opera in Japanese market. Working closely with Opera ASA, Transware aims to promote the Opera browser to the educational sphere in Japan.

About Opera Software ASA

The worldwide World Wide Web — any device, any platform, any bandwidth, absolutely anywhere in the world. Opera Software was founded in 1994, based on the idea that access to the Web should be a universal right. 220 million people (and counting) use the Opera web browsers for computers, mobile phones, TVs and other connected devices. Opera also delivers tools, distribution, engagement, monetization and market insights to developers, publishers and brands around the world. We are passionate about breaking down barriers, so everyone can share in the power of the Internet. Our vision of one Web for all remains at the heart of what we do, because we believe that participation changes everything. Opera Software ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. Learn more about Opera at www.opera.com.