17 June 2010 | Author: D. Warburton Search Copywriter

Microsoft signs search deal with Opera

Microsoft has signed a deal with rival Opera to feature Bing as one of the default search engine options in the latest version of its desktop browser, Opera 10.60 - released this week in beta.

Although Bing still places below default Google in the drop-down list, even a secondary position is notable - considering it was Opera's complaints to the EU, over Microsoft bundling Internet Explorer with Windows products, that led to the company being forced to introduce its browser ballot screen for European web users earlier this year.

Opera was also one of the browsers to benefit significantly from the greater exposure of the ballot screen, with the Norwegian company announcing in March that Opera downloads had doubled. Some countries boasted even greater improvements - especially Poland, where downloads of Opera 10.5 increased by 328 per cent.

Perhaps more significantly, Reuters reports that Bing is now the default search engine on the 'speed dial' page of the latest Opera browser, which appears when users open a new tab.

Although Opera avoided mentioning Bing in press releases and posts surrounding its new browser release, Microsoft Bing general manager Jon Tinter welcomed the inclusion of the search engine on the official Bing blog, stating: "It's great to see Bing as a choice within another of the major browser products out there, and we hope all you Opera fans out there will go get the beta and give Bing a try."

This welcoming attitude by Microsoft seems to extend to Apple's Safari browser too, where Bing makes an appearance in the search box on version 5. Users of Google Chrome can even opt to make Bing their default search engine if they choose - along with other options, such as Yahoo! However, Firefox users shouldn't hold their breath about animosity between Mozilla and Microsoft dying down any time soon.

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