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Opera Browser Creators Planning IPO

Posted by simoniker on from the great-googly-moogly dept.

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."

17 of 368 comments (clear)

  1. Opera by MysteriousMystery · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:Opera by gl4ss · · Score: 4, Insightful

      why does 'going public' always equate into 'after this they must try to bring in all the cash they can in and sell their souls to the devil too!'? you know they don't have to have a businessplan like that!

      the more intresting news is that they made profit..

      seriously, they're doing this to get some financial flexibility afaik, you can be more stiffed for maximum profit with private investors..

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  2. worthy? by segment · · Score: 4, Insightful
    For the quarter ended Dec. 31, Opera earned 1.3 million kroner ($190,000), compared with a loss of 21.4 million kroner ($3.1 million) in the same period a year ago.

    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
    1. Re:worthy? by Kenja · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well for one thing, people are actualy working on Opera and have been since the start. Netscape died becuase the devlopers gave up on it long before the soruce was released. This is why Opera is a good product and Netscape started to suck long before they started going out of business.

      --

      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    2. Re:worthy? by segment · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Netscape crashed and burned following Sun's lead and spending millions chasing dreams in a court of law against Microsoft. Not because they gave up so get your info straight. They lost because they decided to focus their resources on fighting that same 400lb gorilla I just mentioned.

      Personally I use Lynx most of the time or Firebird for my personal use, but as for work I use Windows IE. So here is just another little quip, the majority of corporations (big money spenders) have (or at least should have) policies against software being installed, and I doubt they'd be willing to dish out more money for something already "FREE" (note the quotations before you flame back), "FREE" on the OS they were conned into buying/upgrading. It's called IE.

      --
      MoFscker
    3. Re:worthy? by rolfwind · · Score: 2, Insightful
      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.

      It might be the creditors who gave them the 3.1 million in the first place might be the ones pushing for the IPO to get their money back. AKA venture capitalists. To them, it doesn't matter whether the business floats or sinks afterward, they just need to get their investment out of it anyway possible.

  3. not a good idea by mabhatter654 · · Score: 2, Insightful
    This is not good...the only way the net has survived so far is that very key, very identifiable PRIVATE companies have been involved. They might as well sell it to the highest bidder right now and save the trouble of the IPO. Perhaps they could get IBM to pick them up, or maybe Google! ...as a best case...

    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.

  4. It's about time... by tipiyano · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Opera gets some more recognition. I love the mouse gestures, image off browsing, autosave links for when you need to reboot the system but don't want to bookmark all the open pages and lots of other cool features.

    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).

  5. My advice is this... by D-Cypell · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:My advice is this... by Tin+Foil+Hat · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They've been in business for nine years. I wouldn't call an IPO now "selling up as fast as possible." An IPO is a business decision, and like all business decisions, the smart company will weigh it carefully before embracing it. Opera has survived too much for too long now, and can certainly not be described as stupid. I don't claim to know the reasoning behind their move, but I'm willing to think it is worthwhile from their point of view.

      Hell, their reasoning could be that it will make the founders very rich. Sucks for the rest of us, but if it were my decision, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

      --
      No matter how many of my rights are taken away, somehow I still don't feel safe. -Frigid Monkey
  6. Re:Why Pay? by kannibal_klown · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

  7. Re:Amazing ... by El · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Hint: ABC, NBC, and CBS also offer a "free to use" product.

    --

    "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

  8. Re:Opera OK by saberworks · · Score: 2, Insightful

    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?

  9. Re:I wonder which by neko9 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Opera :-)

  10. Re:Here's Why... by lrichardson · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Puh-leese!

    '...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.

  11. Re:How is this relevant? by FrankDrebin · · Score: 2, Insightful

    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?
  12. How many registrations? by emarkp · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Apparently enough to grow their revenue by 108.7%. Well, registrations plus embedded sales.

    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.