Rumor of Facebook buying Opera browser is Unfounded

mjnc · Jun 9, 2012

There has been a rumor circulating that Facebook may purchase Opera software.
(Thanks to plastidust for sending me an alert!)

Computerworld: Opera is Facebook's best browser play

(from page 2)

Facebook's interest in Opera may be only speculation, but the company's pursuit of a browser has been discussed for much
longer, usually with the expectation of the company building its own from scratch. In 2008, for example, Facebook hired
Mike Schroepfer, then Mozilla's vice president of engineering, a driving force behind Firefox, to take the same title at
the social network.
Click to expand...

It seems now that this rumor is false. :cool

NBC: Opera CEO Not Interested in Facebook Take Over

DavidGP · Jun 9, 2012

Ohhh now that would have if "true" exposed Facebook to more losses in market price for share, as Opera or a browser is something they need to get into, too many good players in the market already, IE, Firefox and Safari.

But rumours are good to spike a share price at times? so wonder where the rumour started?

gman863 · Jun 9, 2012

My guess is that Facebook execs are trolling the market for anything they could buy that has the potential of generating additional return on investment (ROI) for its shareholders.

Opera's current browser market share is a drop in the bucket. Unless Facebook could come up with a radically better browser and/or search engine, it's doubtful they could make the same type of splash Google Chrome did a few years ago.

As more PC users become aware of "do not track" and ad blocking options, all ISP homepages and services like Facebook are going to face an uphill battle in generating ad revenue. As an example, due to the torrent of crap businesses i "liked" were posting on my Facebook page, I've unfriended almost all of them (except Major Geeks, of course ).

Facebook is going to have to offer some hot, value-added paid content options (like higher end gaming) very soon. If not, their IPO could eventually turn into the biggest .com bust since the AOL-Time Warner merger.

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Rumor of Facebook buying Opera browser is Unfounded

mjnc MajorGeek

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

gman863 MajorGeek