Gearing up for growth in China: Opera opens Beijing office

Oslo, Norway and Beijing, PRC – April 25, 2006

Opera Software today opened the doors to its new offices in Beijing to strengthen its position in the fast-growing Chinese telecommunications industry. Opera has a history of success in China, where the Opera browser is already deployed on millions of PCs and mobile phones, including the prestigious ZTE e3, China’s first domestically developed smartphone. The Opera browser is also being used by Datang Mobile to demonstrate the capacity of China’s new 3G network. With the new Beijing office, Opera is securing a strategic foothold in the emerging Chinese market and reinforcing its partnerships with local companies.

“With some of the world’s best engineers hungry to prove their expertise, China is on the fast track of becoming the world-leader in mobile phone and other telecommunications development," said Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. “We see ample opportunities to expand our operations through mutually beneficial business relationships with Chinese partners, and we are pleased to reach more consumers who want a new option for safe and fast Web browsing. China is key to our long-term strategy.”

Opera already has business relationships with Chinese and China-based companies such as ZTE, Datang Mobile, RedFlag Linux, Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola, MontaVista, Trolltech and more.

China has more than 100 million Internet users, and the number is increasing rapidly. Over 400 million people own a mobile phone, providing a massive market potential for Opera’s browsers and a myriad business opportunities for operators and content providers using Opera’s technology.

A global market leader, Opera Software has pioneered Web browser technology since 1995. Opera is used on more than 40 million mobile phones from the leading vendors worldwide, and the Opera desktop browser has been downloaded over 100 million times. Opera’s flagship desktop browser is available as a free download in Simplified or Traditional Chinese from www.opera.com, and the Opera Mobile browser is available from www.opera.com/mobile. With its unique browser technology, Opera also offers compelling solutions for integrating advanced Web-based applications and services with mobile phones, media players, set-top boxes and other multimedia devices.

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. 250 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.