Opera Software has signed a licensing agreement with Microsoft to set the Opera Mini mobile web Browser as default on Nokia feature phones and Asha series handsets. This means, Microsoft will slowly phase out the much buzzed about Xpress Browser. To be noted that the upcoming Nokia Asha and Nokia feature phones under Microsoft branding will come with Opera Mini pre-installed.
Opera Mini is the mobile web browser that has existed even before the mobile operating systems existed for modern day smartphones. Users could enjoy faster page loads on the mobile phones using Opera Mini thanks to Opera Software’s patented data compression technology.
Nokia had invested enough resources to keep the Xpress Browser alive by offering curated content on home pages. Opera Mini offers the same service but with a different approach. With this licensing agreement coming in to effect, all the existing Nokia Asha and feature phones will continue to run Xpress Browser but will be encouraged to update to Opera Mini.
However, in the upcoming Nokia Asha series running Asha Software platform and feature phones running Series 30+ and Series 40 will come with Opera Mini pre-installed out of the box.