Opera Software today released a technical preview (TP) of the Opera browser for Windows Mobile. Smartphone 2003 users can now enjoy the benefits of a faster and better Internet experience from their mobile phones. This development supports operators' need for choice in OS distribution, meeting their customers' demands for an exceptional full Web browser on their mobile phones.

Following the August 2004 announcement of Opera's new development for the Windows Mobile Platform, a silent TP was released on October 14, 2004. Though the first TP was not officially announced, users responded enthusiastically with more than 43,000 downloads. MS Smartphone users were quick with positive feedback. One user stated in an Opera forum, "I tested on a large page...it's faster than anything I've seen before."

Opera 7.60 for Windows Mobile TP is based on Opera's latest core technology, proving that Opera's embedded deliveries are in synch with desktop browser developments. With Opera 7.60 for Windows Mobile, users will enjoy speed, smooth usability and rich content display as they access the full Internet, creating a Web experience unlike any other available for Smartphone 2003 devices. Opera for Windows Mobile supports all major Web standards, including CSS2, DOM 2, JavaScript and more.

"We want to show Smartphone users what Opera is capable of right away," said Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. "We have released a TP for our development on the Windows Mobile platform, so that we can expand testing and get feedback on user experiences. The 7.60-based browser is unprecedented in speed and usability and we are certain that not only users will be thrilled but operators will benefit by offering their subscribers full access to the Web."

In addition, Windows Mobile users will benefit from Opera's renowned SSR (Small-Screen Rendering) technology. SSR eliminates the need for horizontal scrolling to view a page, providing an unmatched browsing experience for MS Smartphone users.

Availability
Today's release is available for all MS Smartphone 2003 devices and can be downloaded at http://www.opera.com/download/mobile/?man=Windows+Mobile. Users must be aware that a TP should be used for preview purposes only, as it is not a final product and does not contain all the features that are expected with the final release. Today's release will expire on March 31, 2005, and users will not be able to register it.