One Web: Opera 7 brings DOM and Dynamic Content to Mobiles

Oslo, Norway - March 9, 2004

Opera Software today announced the details of its new version 7 for Smartphones and PDAs. The new version is already shipping on Kyocera's new ITRON-based phone in Asia, announced last week. Deployments based on the Symbian and Linux operating systems will soon be announced.

Built on the same core as Opera's desktop browser, Opera 7 makes available the leading "Presto" desktop core engine for the first time in mobile devices. By using Presto, Opera 7 strongly differentiates itself from any other mobile browsers. Opera 7 has a dynamic rendering engine fully capable of supporting W3C's Document Object Model (DOM), providing a platform- and language-neutral interface that allows programs and scripts to dynamically access and update the content, structure and style of documents. Presto also supports Street HTML like no other mobile browser. Street HTML is the term for the non-standard code that makes up the "real" Web, authored by developers with unintended and intended bugs to look good in the non-standard-compliant Microsoft Internet Explorer desktop browser. Other highlights in Opera 7 for Smartphones include enhanced support for JavaScript, support for BiDi (bi-directional text, such as Arabic and Hebrew), more modularity and more ease to port to new operating systems.

"Opera 7 forms the basis of the Opera Platform, our initiative to provide operators and handset manufacturers with a tool that brings data services, brand recognition and wins customer loyalty by streaming data through the phone's user interface," says Hakon Lie, CTO, Opera Software ASA. "Opera Platform is built upon support for open standards like DOM and ECMAScript, standards where Opera's support is unmatched in the mobile browser world. Having DOM support in a mobile browser secures that these devices can now display the same dynamic Webpages that have been available on desktop PCs. With Opera's superior standards support there is no need to separate into a mobile and desktop Web, the one available Web with its abundance of content looks great on any kind of device using Opera 7."

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.