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Opera Browser Creators Planning IPO
Iphtashu Fitz writes "Norwegian web browser developer Opera Software is reportedly planning an Initial Public Offering on the Oslo Stock Exchange next month. According to a press release issued today, Opera's revenue for the last quarter grew 108.7% and CEO Jon S. von Tetzchner stated that 'After developing and refining the technology and commercial side for nine years, Opera Software is now ready for public listing.' Opera has, according to CNET News, gained popularity in the past few months thanks, in part, to having ported their well-known browser to smartphones."
Opera is a nice browser, but honestly how many people do you know that actually regged it? Most people are using the ad supported version. With the company going public it makes me wonder about how many ads and to what level the ads will be showing up in future releases. Instead of just a banner at the top maybe pop ups FROM Opera? Perhaps I'm just seeing things negatively but this certainly makes me wonder about the product. I will say it is nice to use on a Zaurus though.
Not to bang the drum slowly here but if Netscape which was already paired with a money maker (or loser depending on your view) such as AOL, and it's pretty much a dead product nowadays, I wonder what Opera is thinking aside from making a quick dollar. Even if they made a measly $190k they lost $3.1 that will eventually have to be paid back if not done already.
Now, Opera is alright as a browser, but as it stands the majority of `quickie' users tend to be - dare I say it? - IE (l)users, and with Microsoft making it pretty much the first thing a new computer user sees, I wonder what is making Opera think they can compete with the (s/^/crooked/g) Microsoft 400lb Gorilla.
MoFscker
Their board will get slammed by the "big kids" trying to get a piece...the directors will get sick of it quickly and quit within a year...Either way the "standards compliance" will be the first thing to go when the corps take over...and that is Opera's only "killer" feature...If the directors want their money, sell it to somebody like google, or OSDN or IBM...somebody that's big enough and "in tune" enough to appreciate it....unlike the whole AOL/Netscape thing.
Now only if they could get a search keyword highlight (like the google toolbar), I will stop using mozilla (which has a google toolbar lookalike).
Take your 108.7% increase, give the staff a nice bonus, and keep on developing.
Why is it that every tech firm thinks that making a profit means sell up as fast as possible? Why put yourselves in the hand of people that have no idea about your technology, company culture or internal standards and just expect you to keep turning profits at all costs?
Keep the money, keep your company and keep inovating.
I like Mozilla, and usually support free software, especially OSS, but I don't see what's so wrong about liking payware. It's not like I'm dirt poor, and can't afford the registration fee.
Free Software and Open Source software is great, but not every company is Microsoft; some are benigh or even benevolent. There's nothing wrong with paying for software if you like it more than the free alternatives.
WHY??
I mean.. i love opera.. i use it to test all my web pages against.. because if it works in Opera.. it will work in ANYTHING.
Now they're gonna sell out.. it will become the next NetScrape.. the programmers will get rich and quit and then MS will buy it out so ZDnet can rave about the "BRAND NEW FEATURE! Tabbed Browsing" in IE 7.0
pftt.. IPO my ass.. what a way to ruin a great company.
Hint: ABC, NBC, and CBS also offer a "free to use" product.
"Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney
Ahem, I use opera for ebay all the time. Maybe you're typing your passwords differently? Maybe you've got it set to identify as IE when it should be identifying itself as opera? Why not contact their support department?
Opera :-)
'...sole OFFICIAL responsibility ...'
There's a vast difference between what they are supposed to do, and what they actually do. Enron, WorldCom being perfect examples.
And what time frame are we talking about? The best way to maximize future dividends is to minimize those paid out now, leaving plenty of cash for growth/development. It's a fine line to walk, keeping investors happy and still maintaining future profitability.
Looting a good company is another consequence of IPOs (thankfully somewhat rarer). Normally done by members of the board through 'options', thus deferring the rape till some time after the IPO, and out of the public's attention.
The Norwegians feel about the Swedes much the same way the Americans feel about Canadians.
Given that Norway is smaller in population but richer in resources (ie. North Sea oil & gas) than Sweden, I'd say it's more like the way Canadians feel about the Americans.
Although it could be construed as insulting to any one nationality, the fact is that to the rest of the world, there's little distinction between Canadians/USAmericans and Norwegians/Swedes.
Anybody want a peanut?
Most people around here seem to miss an important point. Opera is a Norwegian company and it is going to be listed on Oslo Stock Exchange, not on NASDAQ. Being a small company is not a problem for them. They don't aim for multi-billion capitalisation, just for a way to raise some relatively small amounts of capital to finance their expansion plans (whatever they are).
Future Wiki -- If you don't think about the future, you cannot have one.
I have registered version 6 and 7. See, I'm supporting software I use and love. My only complaint is that they don't have a port to PocketPC.