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Opera downloads "tripled" since launch of browser ballot

By Barry Collins and Reuters

Posted on 4 Mar 2010 at 07:36

Opera claims it's seen a surge in downloads of its browser after the launch of the Windows browser ballot.

The ballot screen is being rolled out on new PCs and existing Windows machines where Internet Explorer is currently set as the default browser. It gives users the choice to download the five leading browsers - including Opera - with a further seven browsers available if users scroll the screen to the right.

"Since the browser choice screen rollout, Opera downloads have more than tripled in major European countries, such as Belgium, France, Spain, Poland and the UK," said Rolf Assev, Opera's chief strategy officer.

Opera launched a new version of its browser this week, to take full advantage of the browser ballot.

The early results appear to vindicate Opera's decision to pursue its case with the European authorities. It was Opera's complaint that sparked an EU investigation into the bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows, which resulted in the browser ballot settlement.

However, the browser ballot hasn't appeased all of Microsoft's rivals. Makers of the minority browsers have complained that there is no indication, other than a horizontal scroll bar, that there are more choices other than the first five browsers shown.

"Frankly, nobody knows there are more than five options. We see this as unfair," said Shawn Hardin, chief executive of Flock, Europe's sixth largest browser.

Microsoft said the screen was in compliance with the European Commission's decision.

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User comments

good but

Now all we need is the various webmasters around the world to recognise Opera and check that their offerings work.

2 to start with

Virgin media
1and1

parts of both these web sites offer alternaive browers or updates T IE6 ???.

Most annoying when you have to cut and paste and or have to start again

By delturner1 on 4 Mar 2010

I already used four browsers

The browser ballot never appeared to me as I guess I already was already replete with a swathe of browsers.

I downloaded Opera recently as my fifth, because I read it is hot on implementing the new HTML5 draft and I wanted to explore that.

I force myself to use a new browser for a few weeks to live with it periodically, but I really like Opera anyway.

By Alperian on 4 Mar 2010

@delturner1

Agreed, but there are oddities out there. Curiously I find that the Odeon cinema site works fine with Opera but not Firefox - go figure.

I downloaded Opera 10.5 this morning and have certainly found Opera's claims about speed to be accurate.

By jgwilliams on 4 Mar 2010

" "Frankly, nobody knows there are more than five options. We see this as unfair," said Shawn Hardin, chief executive of Flock, Europe's sixth largest browser "

For Flocks sake!! The whinging has started already. There'll be lawsuits winging backwards and forwards shortly...

The phrase 'Careful what you wish for.' comes to mind.

By rjp2000 on 4 Mar 2010

Oh yeah. Oddly, Opera won't pick up the favicon from the PCPro site, which is annoying.

By Alperian on 4 Mar 2010

The update made me try opera, Looks Good !

I always thought you had to buy Opera, hence I hadn't tried it, but after downloading it from the Browser Choice and having a quick browse, it has some nice features like the recycled bin for closed tabs and the speed dial.

By Tallfish1 on 4 Mar 2010

Precisely

"I always thought you had to buy Opera, hence I hadn't tried it"

I don't think MS can be blamed for that.

By AdrianB on 4 Mar 2010

Haven't Opera just released a new version and wasn't it released at roughly the same time as the browser ballot screen?

By renhoek on 4 Mar 2010

Where's my ballot screen?

I changed the default browser to IE8 so I could see the screen, but no joy. I suppose the fact that Firefox was my default before I changed might tell them I don't need the ballot.
Still it would be interesting to see. No other Windows 7 machines in my house unfortunately.

By windywoo on 4 Mar 2010

Windows Update

I have Google Chrome as my default browser on my Vista PC. However recently when I went to the Windows Update page on the MS website it stated that I had to use MS Explorer. Not sure if this was a glitch or what so I have to use MS Explorer just for that.

By BidAuto on 4 Mar 2010

BidAuto, you shouldn't go to the Windows Update web page with Vista, just use the Windows Update tool...

What will be more interesting is to see how Operas market share changes over the next couple of months...

How many people actually wanted to download it, as opposed to "panic clicked" and how many will continue to use it in the long run... That is when we will see if Opera's persistence has paid off.

By big_D on 4 Mar 2010

Opera downloads "tripled"...

3 x 0 = 0

By shaunb on 4 Mar 2010

@shaunb

Couldn't agree more.

I run a website for non-techie users. Out of 6000 unique visitors in the last couple of months only 7 had Opera.

I guess now that's 21 people out of 6000 - woo hoo - go Opera!

By cyberindie on 4 Mar 2010

Funded by Google....

Interestingly Opera and Firefox get most of their funding from Google - in return for which Google is the default search engine.

So along with Chrome this means the main browsers default to Google giving them a powerful position.

Still Google is a lovely company who'd rather make a friend than profit and really respect individual privacy - so nothing to worry about :-)

By cyberindie on 4 Mar 2010

Instant Browser Balot

I'd quite like the option of an icon on my desktop to bring up the browser ballot.. that way when I get frustrated with the one I'm using I can instantly download the latest version of another. I can never remember what they are all called so this would be quite handy.

By pinero50 on 4 Mar 2010

Browser Ballot

You can access the Browser ballot at anytime by bookmarking the following link: http://www.browserchoice.eu/BrowserChoice/browserc
hoice_en.htm simples!

By Mike_Jennings on 4 Mar 2010

Minority browsers

I'm not sure what justification for whining the makers of the minority browsers have. Were any of them around before IE became part of Windows (come to that were any of the non-minority ones)? Many of them are the IE engine wearing a party frock anyway! Frankly being on page 2 of a free advert rolled to 100s of millions of PCs worldwide is more advertising they could buy in their lifetimes anyway.

Anyway, at least Opera now seem to be satisfied...

By halsteadk on 5 Mar 2010

Correction. 100s of millions of PCs in the EU, not worldwide! Although there are calls for the browser choice to be repeated worldwide.

By halsteadk on 5 Mar 2010

@delturner1 & jgwilliams

Two words: Web standards

Opera is the only browser that actually gains full marks in the Acid 3 test (I've heard claims for Safari, but cannot verify - Apple progs on Windows is just horrible).
Firefox 3.6 manages 92. So really, if web designers make standard compliant pages, Opera is fine with them

By greemble on 5 Mar 2010