Opera Mobile Store
 Opera Mobile Store top popular apps list screenshot in Opera Mini interface. |
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| Developer(s) | Handster → Opera Software ASA |
|---|---|
| Initial release | March 8, 2011 |
| Operating system | Android, Java, BlackBerry OS, Symbian, iOS, Windows Mobile |
| Available in | Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Indonesia, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Nepalese, Norway, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese |
| Type | Digital distribution, software store |
| Website | Opera Mobile Store |
The Opera Mobile Store is a platform-independent browser-based application store for mobile-phone owners and a digital application distribution platform for developers, owned and maintained by Opera Software ASA. Launched and powered by a third-party provider in March, 2011 the Opera Mobile Store was relaunched on a new platform, after acquisition of Handster,[1] a mobile application store platform company, in January 2012. The service allows users to browse and download applications for over 3000 different mobile phone models on Android, Java, BlackBerry OS, Symbian, iOS, and Windows Mobile.
The Opera Mobile Store delivers more than 1 million app downloads a day[2] and is accessible from any mobile phone via a visual bookmark with the OMS logo on Speed Dial or Start Page of Opera Mini or Opera Mobile browsers that run on more than 100 million devices worldwide. The store is also accessible from any other browser, including desktop versions, and on any operating system, from http://apps.opera.com/. The Opera Mobile Store then forwards the user to the country-specific store based on the location information provided by the mobile carrier or ISP.
Over 86% applications for Android powered phones provided by the Opera Mobile Store are free of charge, others require payment. The average free-vs.-paid-apps ratio for all platforms is 70% and 30%, respectively. These applications are generally targeted on a particular category, including games, business applications, social-media apps, e-books, and others.
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History [edit]
On March 8, 2011, Opera Software announced the launch of Opera Mobile Store powered by third-party provider. On September 19, 2011 Opera Software has acquired mobile application store platform company Handster Inc., which was leading independent applications store for Android market at this time.[3]
Following the acquisition of Handster Opera Software made a major overhaul since the Opera Mobile Store launch.[4] Opera Software announced a revamped Opera Mobile Store with improved distribution and monetization capabilities for developers, and better customization for white-label marketplaces at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 27, 2012.
Number of downloaded applications [edit]
As stated in the official Opera Software press-release, by February 27, 2012 Opera Mobile Store reached more than 30 million monthly app store visits and over 45 million monthly app downloads.[4]
By December 12, 2012 the Opera Mobile Store has reached 50 million monthly users visiting their catalog of 80,000 free and paid apps.[5]
Most popular apps [edit]
Top-100 apps lists are compiled separately for each country with an Opera Mobile Store presence. The lists feature 14 categories, ranging from business apps to games for every platform supported by the Opera Mobile Store, consisting of the most popular apps among the store users in the selected category.
Top-20, most popular paid and free apps across all countries, platforms, and categories
(Dec 2012)[3] [edit]
| Rank | Free & Paid apps |
|---|---|
| 1 | Skype |
| 2 | Angry Birds |
| 3 | Cut the Rope |
| 4 | Opera Mini |
| 5 | Друг Вокруг |
| 6 | |
| 7 | Fruit Ninja Kaka |
| 8 | Evernote |
| 9 | eBuddy |
| 10 | Nimbuzz Messenger |
| 11 | Super Zuma |
| 12 | Farm Frenzy |
| 13 | Wiki Encyclopedia |
| 14 | Need for Speed |
| 15 | Hollywood Hospital 2 |
| 16 | Words with Friends |
| 17 | Contract Killer HD |
| 18 | ICQ |
| 19 | Doodle Jump |
| 20 | Lokata |
Application ratings [edit]
At present, the Opera Mobile Store does not rate applications; instead, the OMS team ether accepts apps submitted for inclusion into the store or rejects them, based on whether their content is appropriate for a wide age group, and keeping objectionable apps out of the store.
App submission process [edit]
Opera Mobile Store does not charge developers for joining mobile store's distribution program and publishing apps. Developers get 70% of net revenue from sales of paid apps for Android accepted into the Opera Mobile Store, and 50% of net revenue for Java apps.
App approval process [edit]
Applications are subject to approval by Opera Mobile Store team for basic reliability testing on all the platforms and devices declared by developer in submission process. Opera Mobile Store does not accept adult and sexual content.
Opera Top App Awards [edit]
Every year Opera Mobile Store runs Top Apps Awards. These awards recognize the best apps in the Opera Mobile Store across multiple categories based on popular user voting.[5][6]
Similar services [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ "Opera acquires Handster Inc.". Opera Press Releases (Press release). Opera Software ASA. September 19, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ Bango PLC (August 31, 2011). "Update on Mobile App Stores". RNS Reach Story. London Stock Exchange. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ^ a b Dan Sun. "Android developers head for alternative distribution platforms as Android Market offers limited business potential today". research2guidance. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
- ^ a b "A new and improved Opera Mobile Store". Opera Press Releases (Press release). Opera Software ASA. February 27, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ a b "Opera Mobile Store announces the 2012 Top Apps Awards". Opera Press Releases (Press release). Opera Software ASA. December 12, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ "2012 Top Apps Awards results — Android winners". 2012 Top Apps Awards. Opera Software ASA. December 3, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
External links [edit]
- Official website
- Official Opera Mobile Store developer site
- Software distribution agreement
- Opera Mobile Store on Facebook
- Opera Mobile Store on Twitter
