14 DAY TRIAL // Today, Opera Software announced that Skyfire, its fully-owned subsidiary, had launched a new global version of its Skyfire Horizon mobile browser extension platform.
The release can be easily deployed on Android smartphones by both operators and OEMs, offering the former the necessary tools to better interact with customers and to offer personalized browsing options.
Wireless carriers can choose to pre-load Skyfire Horizon on Android smartphones, or they can provide users with the option to download it, so as to personalize their mobile browser.
Furthermore, the platform will provide users with access to utilities and HTML5 web apps, so as to enjoy a more social and more fun browsing. They also receive access to free or sponsored content through zero-rated browser extensions.
Opera also notes that it currently works with more than 130 mobile carriers in over 70 countries around the world so as to provide users with access to co-branded versions of its popular Opera Mini browser.
These co-branded apps have over 77 million monthly active users, but Opera will expand this through offering Skyfire Horizon globally, so that features such as Speed Dial could be deployed to multiple Android browsers.
“Skyfire Horizon is currently live and shipping on new Android smartphones for two tier 1, U.S.-based operators,” Opera also announced.
“The new version, Horizon 7.0, has been upgraded to allow a richer, more immersive HTML5 app experience within the browser, as well as being made international-ready for even faster deployment in markets around the world.”
Horizon 7.0 comes with popular in-browser extensions such as Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Twitter, and more, while also featuring multi-language support and the Opera Mobile Store for app recommendations.
With Horizon, carriers can offer shortcut buttons to their services and content partners, as well as zero-rating within a particular extension, so that customers could use a specific service without paying extra for it.
“Skyfire Horizon is now a globally-scaled platform that has been made more flexible for the needs of mobile operators and OEMs in international markets,” says Jeff Glueck, EVP, Operator Solutions, Opera Software.
“Just as Opera has done for 77 million operator-branded Opera Mini users around the world, our goal is to enable services that users love, in partnership with mobile operators.”