Opera makes Google the default search option on Opera Mobile Browsers

by: Bena Roberts Wednesday, February 27th, 2008

Google is the default search option on Opera Mobile Browsers (again)

The battle of Google ousting Yahoo! and Yahoo! ousting Google is in full play. In February 2007 Yahoo! ousted Google from the Opera deck and now Google is back.

“Google and Opera have established a valuable relationship over the years and we look forward to continued collaboration on mobile products,” said Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera. “With 2008 poised to be the year the mobile Web goes mainstream, Google and Opera are extending this collaboration to give our users immediate access to the quality and convenience of Google’s search results. We’re excited to extend this productive relationship and we hope that the nearly 100 million people using our mobile products will agree.” (Cellular News)
What we think?
Now, it seems as though Yahoo! had paid to be on Opera for year and now that relationship has ended and Google is back up there. Its very strange actually as I remember having a huge briefing with Yahoo and Opera last year about this how it was great for Yahoo! I even wrote a whole article on it.

Below is what I wrote in February 2007, so its a bit old, I am not sure if it will render properly.

Screenshot	Time to Download	Analysis
	Seconds	The home page of Opera mini is clean and easy to navigate. There are three search engine choices. Opera’s own, Yahoo! and the third, Wikipedia, also leads to a scroll down list of a number of additional search engines. On our mobile device Google is currently still the brand on the second search line, but Yahoo! will be the new face of Opera Mobile and Mini in the coming months.
	Seconds	Entering a URL is predictive and almost straightforward. As this image demonstrates, when a user clicks on the search box they are redirected to a clear white page. This is unusual and takes some getting used to because search queries more usually typed into a search box and there is a feeling of nakedness when it disappears. The Menu icon, as seen in the screen shot, did not appear on my search box. Instead once the URL is typed in, it instantly clicked through to the required home page.
	Seconds	Adding a bookmark is simple. The side navigation menu is compact, assisting the user experience. Instead of hiding what is to be saved by covering the whole screen, navigation can be scrolled leaving most of the menu visible. This gives the look and feel of a larger browser. Saving, adding or deleting new URLs in no longer a chore.
	Seconds	The history section is marvellous. Consumers usually have five favourite URLs or sites they visit often. Opera Mini’s solution is a quick and zero-effort way to track what you read and when. You can simply type in the URL once and never have to do it again. Users often save things they are interested in and want to view them over and over again.
	Seconds	The most popular feeds such as Wired are already on the Opera Browser. Less well known feeds need to be added and this is where the headache begins – if the URL is not known or there are feeds with similar names. RSS is huge, but the selection and uptake of relatively unknown feeds has to be done with help from the Internet or through news-type services, which can be emailed to a WAP link and added instantly. Yet only by adding less well-known feeds will mobile RSS reach fever pitch.
	Didn’t get there	Passwords are a bore on mobile. Opera has the user’s phone number, so why not use the information available to generate passwords instantly? This could be the phone number plus a password that users are sent via SMS or email later. This would improve the experience: Google/Blogger/T-Mobile and SonyEricsson already do this.
	Couldn’t find it	Personalisation is so hot on mobile, but we couldn’t find it on our download. It’s an absolute must – this is a big problem.