Little known Norwegian browser challenges the big boys

June 7, 2010 · by Espen André Øverdahl

How many times have you seen or heard that title? Here at Opera we are often referred to as the "Little known Norwegian browser" which is challenging the "big boys" in the browser market. It's ok, but did you know that Opera is the most popular browser in places like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus? We also have a significant market share in Russia and Ukraine.

In an article on a website called MercuryNews.com you can read about the handful of engineers and sales people in Opera's Silicon Valley offices might be forgiven for feeling like David within a ring of Goliaths.

Readers' comments 16

Left under the original article, as archived.

JaredMonday, June 7, 2010 12:41:37 PM
Not to mention my dad WORKED AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER in Kazakstan for 5 years, he still HAVEN'T HEARD OF OPERA!

I hope that when I'll use it next time he would be stunned!
AnuaR ShMonday, June 7, 2010 12:46:12 PM
Opera is the most popular browser in places like Kazakhstan

confirmed
AnuaR ShMonday, June 7, 2010 12:49:05 PM
Kazakhs love to drive fast))
ZhmeniaMonday, June 7, 2010 1:16:43 PM
Internet in Belarus is very slow. And "Opera" is very helpful to us in this time. But Belarus is little known country too, and many "big" peoples think about your browser same. But we're with you!
Charles SchlossMonday, June 7, 2010 1:37:11 PM
David BloomMonday, June 7, 2010 2:23:48 PM
Just so you know, the San Jose Mercury News is a *major* paper in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its circulation is about the same as Aftenposten's.
TamilMonday, June 7, 2010 2:58:21 PM
Artur „Jurgi” JurgawkaMonday, June 7, 2010 4:00:14 PM
Not to mention Opera has a significant market share in Poland.
johannes96Monday, June 7, 2010 4:06:49 PM
That's cool!
s14shyamTuesday, June 8, 2010 1:12:41 AM
I don't know how much longer this type of crap will continue, but I'm sure it'll end soon. I'm sure that at least 60% of the world would use Opera, if each user of the Internet tries it even for one day. So, just don't take these into consideration at all. You're the best, and not all people are lucky enough to have the best. Also, I'm sure that even that article would have made some people try Opera and thus, added a few more Opera users.
Keiv M.Tuesday, June 8, 2010 11:43:12 AM
I love opera, it is my main browser. However, I use facebook a lot and opera crashes or freezes with uncomfortable regularity on facebook.
other sites that use flash or heavy java script does not fare well with opera right now.

it is becoming frustrating to hear those i recommended opera to complain about how often it crashes on facebook. It may not be opera's fault, it may be poorly coded pages on facebook but still it is frustrating, to know i can't use my favorite browser for the site i use the most each day.

new eyecandy, and faster javascript performance is nice, but i'd much rather have stability.
Rafael LuikTuesday, June 8, 2010 7:11:42 PM
Only 0.6% of the desktop users use Opera in Brazil, I wish it could be more popular. :/
I'm the only Opera user in my classroom...!

Originally posted by KeMiSa:

it crashes on facebook
Opera never crashed on Facebook for me...
Maybe it's because I don't use any applications (games, etc).
ChaserTuesday, June 8, 2010 8:27:55 PM
Hey guys,
JUST A STRONG THKS to the boys/girls behind the big David wich is fighting goliath. Awesome browser, a first truly complete web browser.
From a Romanian-Spain guy a big TEN for your job
Ice ArdorTuesday, June 8, 2010 9:13:48 PM
Originally posted by rafaelluik:

Opera never crashed on Facebook for me...
Maybe it's because I don't use any applications (games, etc).

Opera only crashes because Adobe Flash is installed--and that's not in Opera's control. The sooner HTML5 video becomes mainstream, the better.
d4rkn1ghtTuesday, June 15, 2010 12:15:40 AM
Laura SchmidtFriday, April 22, 2011 11:29:47 AM
Great work, I'm currently writing my IT thesis about different browser types and it seems like Opera is getting very popular in Austria now. Great work.