Opera Software today announced that it has added Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) playing capabilities to its browser for mobile devices by enabling Ikivo's SVG player technology. Opera's collaboration with Ikivo offers users the ability to play both static and animated images inside the browser.

In a foresightful effort, Opera now accomodates content creators as they increasingly use SVG in the creation of graphic centric applications. The addition of the SVG player enables users to view graphics such as cartoon animations, maps and other characters and symbols in an effective and high quality way. Mobile device users will benefit from Opera's addition of SVG playing capabilities with sharp, non-distorted images in the browser.

"We see SVG as the future of animation because it's scalable, open standard and appealing to more and more of the development community," says Timo Bruns, Opera's Vice President of Business Development for mobile. "Ikivo is a leader in the SVG industry and we are excited to enable each other's technology with this new addition to the Opera browser."

"Ikivo is a leading SVG company that offers a product that will add value to Opera's full Web browser for mobile devices," says Magnus Zetterberg, Ikivo's Vice President of Sales. "Our cooperation with Opera results in a high quality product that handset manufacturers, operators and the end user can all value. Opera's decision to incorporate our SVG player proves that they look to the market, see a need and provide the best possible product to meet that need."

The Opera browser with SVG player integration is available from first quarter 2005. Product announcements regarding incorporation of the Opera browser with SVG playinging capabilities on mobile devices will be made at a later date.