Oslo, Norway – Opera Software today announced that Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS” – NYSE: MBT), the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS, will now provide a co-branded version of the Opera Mini browser for its subscribers, who can download it on their mobile phones at mini.opera.com. Subscribers of MTS will get access to a customized Opera Mini start page when they download the browser on their mobile phones.
The start page will have default bookmarks which give MTS subscribers quick and easy access to music, videos and games as well as giving users the opportunity to purchase content directly from the browser.
Being the largest Russian mobile operator, MTS clocked in 97.8 million subscribers at the end of December 2009 — 69.3 million of which are in Russia. MTS was the first to provide a wide range of innovative data services and Web applications to the Russian mobile market.
“With this project, we managed to combine the advantages of Opera Mini, which allows the most efficient and fast mobile Internet, with easy and convenient mobile-content purchasing. This was made possible through the integration of the Web browser and the MTS network platform”, said Pavel Roytberg, Director of Product Development at MTS. “Now our subscribers will be able to buy content with one click through Opera Mini.”
Opera Mini is the most popular browser for mobile phones in Russia, with the highest market share. Opera Mini compresses data up to 90 percent, resulting in cost savings and increased speed, even while surfing with low-end mobile handsets. At the same time, Opera Mini provides the full Web on your mobile phone and gives you the tools for comfortable navigation with limited hardware.
“Russia is an important market for Opera, and we are excited to tie up with MTS to provide Russian users the best mobile browsing experience,” noted Nuno Sitima, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Opera Software. “Our partnership with MTS simplifies access to business and entertainment content for tens of millions of customers in Russia.”
