Opera big in Japan: Opera Signs Exclusive Desktop Deal With livedoor Japan

Oslo, Norway – May 19, 2004

Opera Software today announced that it has signed an exclusive distribution deal with the Japanese software distributor livedoor Japan, where livedoor will distribute Opera’s desktop products exclusively in the Japanese market.

livedoor will be marketing and selling Opera’s desktop versions, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, exclusively in the Japanese market as a regular download and as a packaged version on its portal page www.livedoor.jp. The packaged version will also be available in all of livedoor’s 3600 stores all over Japan.

“We are very excited to enter an exclusive agreement with one of the largest local providers of download and packaged software in Japan,” says Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO Opera Software ASA. “livedoor’s presence in the portal space as well as towards the sales channel will help us increase our market share in Japan and introduce an increasing number of Japanese users to a better Internet experience.”

livedoor is the largest ISP in Japan with 700 000 users and will take on the sale of all desktop products from the livedoor portal site at opera.livedoor.com

“We are proud to be able to introduce the best Internet experience to many more new users in the Japanese market,” says Takafumi Horie, President & CEO, livedoor co ltd., “and we are especially looking forward to launch the Japanese version of Opera 7.50 for Windows, Mac, and Linux in only a few weeks.”

About livedoor co. ltd.

livedoor is the largest free ISP in Japan with over 700 000 users and an innovator in Internet solutions offering total solutions for businesses and consumers alike with Internet services ranging from finance to weblogs. livedoor’s line of business solutions are born from the synergy of the numerous services and distribution channels. livedoor is one of the major Japanese publishers and distributors of software, with software products top ranking on major download sites. livedoor’s retail store network extends to over 3600 stores, with sales amounts increasing annually. Learn more about livedoor at http://www.livedoor.jp