Opera Software and Japan’s largest 3G operator, KDDI, today announced that Opera Software’s Mobile browser will be shipped on five new mobile phones in KDDI’s featured summer series. Opera Mobile has previously been included on five KDDI models in 2006, including the recently announced, WiFi-enabled Sanyo E02SA. With the inclusion of KDDI’s summer series, Opera Mobile will have been a key application on ten KDDI 3G handsets so far in 2006.

The Opera Mobile browser will be included on the following BREW-based devices for KDDI’s summer series: Sanyo W33SA II, Sony-Ericsson W42S, Casio W42CA, Hitachi W42H and Toshiba W44T. This follows the announcement of the Opera Mobile browser so far in 2006 on the Hitachi W41H, Casio W41CA, Sony-Ericsson W41S, Toshiba W43T and Sanyo E02SA.

“We recognize that our users demand a superior product that offers them an unsurpassed browsing experience,” says Hiroyuki Sakaniwa, Group Leader, Application Platform Group, Product Management Department, “au” Service & Product Planning Division “au” Business Sector, KDDI. “That is why we have selected the Opera Mobile browser.”

The new summer series handsets will include enhanced browser features such as a password manager, portal search directly from the UI, and performance improvements. The Sanyo E02SA, will be the first mobile device from KDDI designed specifically for corporate clients and can be used both as a telephone for making calls using VoIP, and as a mobile phone.

“The Japanese market is setting the standard for mobile technology,” says Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. “KDDI’s commitment to continue to include Opera on their new handsets is a testament to KDDI’s focus on quality.”

The 3G network in Japan is growing steadily with approximately 40 million subscribers. With 2G being phased out of the Japanese market, Opera recognizes the demand for its advanced browsing solutions to enable advanced 3G Web services.

Opera Software announced Opera Mobile 8.60, its proven mobile browser for Symbian Series 60 (S60) mobile phones. With this new release, Opera is offering its most complete and easy-to-use mobile browser to date. Opera Mobile 8.60 for S60 is designed to let users interact more effectively with the Web on their phone, and includes new features to speed up the user interaction through auto-completion of Web addresses and passwords, page toggling and smooth scrolling.

Opera Mobile 8.60 for S60 is designed for the new Symbian 9, S60 3rd Edition phones, featured on handsets such as the Nokia 3250, N91, N80, N71, E60, E61 and E71. It also supports all current Symbian S60 2nd Edition mobile devices.

“We need to offer users a convenient and customizable command of the Web while away from their desk,” said Roger Carlhammar, EVP, Opera Mobile. “Therefore, improving the user-friendliness by focusing on the user experience is a requirement for making the mobile Web a mass-market reality. Opera Mobile 8.60 delivers those features within the familiar Symbian S60 framework and layout.”

A user-friendly experience is also about being able to select how pages are displayed on a small screen. Users can surf with Opera’s acclaimed Small-Screen Rendering (SSR) technology, which refits Web pages to the width of the mobile screen, or select desktop mode to view the page to look like it would on a PC, with the ability to zoom in and out.

Highlights of Opera Mobile 8.60
- Symbian 9, S60 3rd Edition compatible
- Auto-completion for URL entry
- Password manager for easy logins
- New and improved smooth scrolling
- Updated user interface with new skin
- Open and toggle up to four windows, each with separate settings for zoom levels and display options
- Read and bookmark newsfeeds
- Send images as MMS or save to phone gallery

Availability
- Opera Mobile 8.60 for Series 60 is available for download from the mobile products page

http://www.opera.com/products/mobile/products/s60/

- For handset manufacturers and operators, Opera 8.6 features enhanced customization options that allow for seamless phone integration. With Opera’s mobile browser, operators can offer their subscribers advanced mobile services and an unparalleled mobile Internet experience on the wide range of mobile phones based on Symbian S60.

- Complete list of updates and changes in Opera Mobile 8.60:

http://www.opera.com/docs/changelogs/mobile/series60/

- Opera Mobile 8.60 tutorial:

http://www.opera.com/support/tutorials/s60/