Opera acquires Handster Inc.

San Mateo CA, USA and Oslo, Norway — September 19, 2011

Opera Software announced today that it has acquired Handster Inc., a leading mobile application store platform company.

Handster, based in Northbrook, Illinois, with operations in Odessa, Ukraine, has assembled the world’s largest independent Android content library and offers services to mobile operators, device manufacturers and application stores globally. The company’s offerings include a white-label app store platform, content management, developer tools, content curation and financial settlement services.

The Handster platform supports Google Android, Java, Symbian, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, netbook and tablet applications. Handster customers include some of the world’s largest mobile operators, mobile platform providers and device manufacturers such as MTS, Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Huawei and LG.

Launched in March this year, the Opera Mobile Store is now a top 10 mobile app store globally, serving consumers on virtually every mobile platform, including iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Java, and Symbian, as well as web content.

“Opera is evolving from being a browser company into a fully integrated mobile services company and this acquisition is an important step in that direction. We are delighted to welcome the Handster team into the Opera family. Handster will enable us to strengthen our mobile store offerings to consumers, mobile operators and handset manufacturers,” said Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera Software.

“Handster could not have found a better suitor,” said Handster Founder and CEO Victor Shaburov. “The combination of our platform, along with Opera’s position in the market, will make a big impact on the mobile ecosystem, benefiting developers, publishers, operators and handset manufacturers around the world.”

Shaburov will join the Opera Mobile Consumer and Publisher management team based in San Mateo, California, USA.