[OT] Opera browser is now free!

[Flint]

Today Opera version 8.50 was released, and now the version for desktop becomes absolutely free! You can read here, why, and download here the version for Windows, or here - the localized version or versions for Linux, Mac etc.

[karlchen]

Nice to read it is for free now.

Yet, this raises some questions which I did not find an answer for (on Opera's homepage or elsewhere):
Before converting Opera into freeware, the Opera developers
+ got money for inserting commercial ads into unregistered Opera browsers
+ got money for Opera licenses

Now they do not get any money for advertisements or for licenses.
How are they going to make money?
Has anybody come across a precise clue as to what Opera's business is going to be now?

Karl

[Flint]

karlchen
1. Mobile Opera versions are still shareware.
2. Premium supports is not free.
3. As many freeware authors, they can also get money for ads (for example, banners on their web-site).

[Sir_SiLvA]

@karlchen:

nd wer denkt, dass Opera nun keine Weiterentwicklung betreiben wird, liegt sicher falsch. Die Aufmerksamkeit, die Opera nun auf sich zieht, wird sicher im Embedded-Bereich zu Geld gemacht, Stickwort Handy etc.

[paul-white]

How are they going to make money?

Much of their revenue will come from their trading partners such as Google. Every time an Opera user uses Google to search the web Opera Software make money.

Free browser --> more users --> more use of Google --> more money for Opera Software.

[karlchen]

Good morning to all.

Ok, ok, I see the Norwegian developers and their families are not going to starve to death, because from now on I may use their browser for free on my 2 Windows machines.
So I am feeling much better now.

Regards,
Karl