Opera Mobile Store
{{short description|Platform-independent browser-based app store}}
{{Advert|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Opera Mobile Store
| logo = File:Opera Mobile Store logo.png
| logo_caption = The Opera Mobile Store Logo
| author = Opera, later Bemobi
| type = Digital distribution, software store
| language = Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Persian, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Nepali, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2011|03|08}}
| dissolved = {{Start date and age|2022|04}} (start of shutdown)
{{Start date and age|2023|03}} (fully decommissioned)
| area_served = Worldwide
| url = {{URL|apps.opera.com}}
| current_status = Discontinued
}}
{{Infobox software
| screenshot =
| caption = Opera Mobile Store top popular apps list screenshot in Opera Mini interface.
| collapsible =
| developer = Handster → Opera
| released = {{Start date and age|2011|03|08}}
| discontinued = yes
| operating system = Android, Java, Series 30+, BlackBerry OS, Symbian, iOS, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone
}}
Opera Mobile Store was a platform-independent browser-based app store for mobile-phone owners and a digital application distribution platform used by more than 40,000 developers.
name="Nokia Store → Opera Mobile Store press-release">
{{cite press release
|url = http://www.operasoftware.com/ru/press/releases/mobile/release-2014-11-18
|title = Microsoft and Opera Software sign agreement to extend Opera Mobile Store to more Nokia phones
|date=November 18, 2014
|publisher = Opera Software ASA
|work = Opera Press Releases
|access-date = November 20, 2014
}} It is owned and maintained by Opera. Launched by a third-party provider in March 2011, the Opera Mobile Store was relaunched on a new platform, after acquisition of Handster,
name="acquisition of Handster — Opera">
{{cite press release
|url = http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2011/09/19/
|title = Opera acquires Handster Inc.
|date=September 19, 2011
|publisher = Opera Software ASA
|work = Opera Press Releases
|access-date = December 12, 2012
}} a mobile app store platform company, in January 2012. The service allows users to browse and download applications for over 7,500 different devices on Android, Java, BlackBerry OS, Symbian, iOS, and Windows Mobile.
Opera Mobile Store has than 1 million app downloads a day
{{cite web
|url = http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail.html?announcementId=10963051
|title = Update on Mobile App Stores
|date = August 31, 2011
|author = Bango PLC
|publisher = London Stock Exchange
|work = RNS Reach Story
|access-date = December 6, 2012
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130613204655/http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail.html?announcementId=10963051
|archive-date = June 13, 2013
}} and is accessible from any mobile phone via a bookmark or the Start Page of Opera Mini or Opera Mobile browsers. The store is also accessible from any other browser, including desktop versions, and on any operating system, from https://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% of the applications for Android-powered phones provided by the Opera Mobile Store are free of charge. The average free-vs.-paid-apps ratio for all platforms is 70% and 30%, respectively.{{cn|date=June 2024}} These applications are generally targeted on a particular category, including video games, business applications, social media apps, e-books, and others.
History
On March 8, 2011, Opera Software announced the launch of Opera Mobile Store powered by third-party provider. On September 19, 2011, Opera Software acquired app store platform company Handster, which was the leading independent applications store for Android market at that time.
name="Opera Mobile Store site">
{{cite web
|url = http://www.research2guidance.com/android-developers-head-for-alternative-distribution-platforms-as-android-market-offers-limited-business-potential-today/
|title = Android developers head for alternative distribution platforms as Android Market offers limited business potential today
|first = Dan
|last = Sun
|date = 15 June 2011
|publisher = research2guidance
|access-date = 12 December 2012
}}
Following the acquisition of Handster, Opera Software made a major overhaul since the Opera Mobile Store launch.
name="Opera Mobile Store relaunch">
{{cite press release
|url = http://www.operasoftware.com/press/releases/mobile/a-new-and-improved-opera-mobile-store
|title = A new and improved Opera Mobile Store
|date = February 27, 2012
|publisher = Opera Software ASA
|work = Opera Press Releases
|access-date = December 12, 2012
}} 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. In July 2013, developers can now upload apps to both the Yandex Store and the Opera Mobile Store simultaneously, as a result of agreements between the two companies.[https://techcrunch.com/2013/02/25/yandex-releases-its-50000-app-alt-android-store-upgrades-yandex-shell-3d-ui-to-target-small-handset-makers-carriers/ Yandex Courts Handset Makers, Carriers With New Android App Store And 3D Skins]. TechCrunch. Retrieved on 2013-11-21.
On November 18, 2014, Microsoft and Opera Software have signed an agreement to replace Nokia Store with the Opera Mobile Store as the default app store for Nokia feature phones, Symbian and Nokia X smartphones.{{cite news
|last = Developer Team
|first = Microsoft Mobile
|title = Successful Migration from Nokia Store to Opera Mobile Store
|url = http://developer.nokia.com/blogs/news/successful-migration-from-nokia-store-to-opera-mobile-store
|publisher = Nokia Developer Blogs
|date = 11 December 2011
|access-date = March 24, 2015
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150222041337/http://developer.nokia.com/blogs/news/successful-migration-from-nokia-store-to-opera-mobile-store
|archive-date = 22 February 2015
}} The process of migrating customers from Nokia Store to Opera Mobile Store is expected to be complete in the first half of 2015, at which point Nokia Store will be closed.
name="Nokia Store migration to Opera Mobile Store">
{{cite press release
|url = http://www.operasoftware.com/press/releases/mobile/a-new-and-improved-opera-mobile-store
|title = Microsoft and Opera Software sign agreement to extend Opera Mobile Store to more Nokia phones
|date = November 18, 2014
|publisher = Opera Software ASA
|work = Opera Press Releases
|access-date = March 24, 2015
}}
Number of downloaded applications
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.
Number of apps in the store has tripled over the year 2013, while the number of monthly visitors to the Opera's app distribution platform grew to 75 million in October, 2013.
name="The Next Web 75m">
{{cite web
|url = https://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/10/24/operas-mobile-store-triples-number-apps-year-chalks-75m-monthly-visitors/
|title = Opera's mobile store triples its number of apps over a year as it chalks up 75m monthly visitors
|first = Kaylene
|last = Hong
|date = 24 October 2013
|publisher = The Next Web
|access-date = February 6, 2014
}}
At the end of Q4 2013 Opera Software announced that it has reached a new milestone — 105 million monthly visitors. That is a 172% increase in a year since the close of 2012. The top-three countries in 2013 based on the number of Opera Mobile Store users were India, the United States and Indonesia. By November, 2014 Opera's app store started to offer close to 300,000 mobile apps and games across most mobile platforms. Earlier, in early 2014 the mobile store offered over 200,000
name="Opera Software 100 million press-release">
{{cite press release
|url = http://www.operasoftware.com/press/releases/mobile/2014-01-28
|title = Opera Mobile Store passes 100 million users
|date = 24 October 2013
|publisher = Opera Software
|access-date = January 28, 2014
}} apps significant growth in the number of apps available.{{cite web
|url=http://jabar.tribunnews.com/2014/02/02/indonesia-ketiga-terbesar-pengunjung-aplikasi-opera
|title=Indonesia Ketiga Terbesar Pengunjung Aplikasi Opera
|date=February 2, 2014}}
=Most popular apps=
Top 100 apps lists are compiled separately for each country with an Opera Mobile Store presence. The lists feature 17 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.
Application ratings
Currently, 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
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
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
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.
name="Top Apps Awards">{{cite press release
|url = http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2012/12/12/
|title = Opera Mobile Store announces the 2012 Top Apps Awards
|date = December 12, 2012
|publisher = Opera Software ASA
|work = Opera Press Releases
|access-date = December 12, 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121221030014/http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2012/12/12/
|archive-date = December 21, 2012
|url-status = dead
}}
name="2012 Top Apps Awards">
{{cite web
|url = http://apps.opera.com/en_ua/awards/
|title = 2012 Top Apps Awards results — Android winners
|date = December 3, 2012
|publisher = Opera Software ASA
|work = 2012 Top Apps Awards
|access-date = December 12, 2012
}}
Partnerships
In 2013 Opera Mobile Store signed a cross-app store distribution partnership with Yandex, the largest search engine in the Russian-speaking Internet market and the leading search engine in Eastern Europe, based on audience reach. This agreement allows apps in the Opera Mobile Store also to be available for download in the Yandex app store and vice versa. The same year Opera Software signed several more partnership agreements with mobile carriers in Eastern Europe. Both MTS Belarus and MTS Ukraine launched Opera co-branded app stores for their 28 million total user base.
Opera Subscription Mobile Store
Starting July 21, 2014 Opera Software started to offer service that provides mobile carriers' customers with unlimited access to premium games and apps catalogue built on the Opera Mobile Store technology and supported by the OMS team. The first carrier to implement app store subscription model for their customers was MTS Russia that launched App Market service together with Opera. In this model mobile users pay a weekly subscription fee for "all-you-can-eat" access after a free seven-day trial period.
name="Opera and MTS Russia launch App Market store">
{{cite press release
|url = http://www.operasoftware.com/press/releases/mobile/2014-07-21
|title = Opera and MTS Russia launch App Market store
|date = July 21, 2014
|publisher = Opera Software ASA
|work = Opera Press Releases
|access-date = November 21, 2014
}}
name="Opera Subscription Mobile Store launch">
{{cite press release
|url = http://www.operasoftware.com/press/releases/mobile/2014-11-26
|title = Opera launches operator-branded app store for "all you can eat" apps and games
|date = November 26, 2014
|publisher = Opera Software ASA
|work = Opera Press Releases
|access-date = December 3, 2014
}} During 2014 Opera Software launched subscription mobile stores with MTS Russia, MTS Ukraine, MTS Belarus, TIM Brasil
name="Opera Mobile Store + TIM Brasil">
{{cite press release
|url = http://www.operasoftware.com/press/releases/mobile/opera-and-tim-brazil-set-up-shop
|title = Opera and TIM Brazil set up shop
|date = November 26, 2012
|publisher = Opera Software ASA
|work = Opera Press Releases
|access-date = December 3, 2014
}} and XL Axiata in Indonesia.
One Platform Foundation
In May 2013 Opera and Yandex announced together with SlideME and CodeNgo the launch and provided support for a new open-source One Platform Foundation (OPF) initiative, enabling developers to easily code and submit their apps across multiple alternative app stores.
name="OPF The Next Web news">
{{cite web
|url = https://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/05/31/opera-yandex-one-platform-foundation-android/
|title = Opera and Yandex start One Platform Foundation to "help the Android ecosystem evolve"
|date = May 31, 2013
|publisher = The Next Web
|first = Robin
|last = Wauters
|access-date = February 6, 2014
}}
Similar services
{{Main|List of mobile app distribution platforms}}
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- [http://apps.opera.com/ Official website]
- [http://publishers.mobilestore.opera.com/ Official Opera Mobile Store developer site]
- [http://apps.opera.com/docs/DistributionAgreementHandster_standard.pdf Software distribution agreement]
- [http://opera-mobile-store.com/ Opera Mobile Store team's official blog]
- [https://blackmarty.com/blackmart-alternative/#opera-mobile-store-from-the-browser-veterans Opera Mobile Store: From the Browser Veterans]
{{Software digital distribution platforms}}