Opera Mini brings the Web to Meridian Group’s newest handset

Oslo, Norway – July 21, 2008

Meridian Group, a leading player in the mobile industry with its flagship brand ‘Fly”, and Opera Software today announced a partnership to pre-install Opera Mini, the fast and easy-to-use mobile Web browser on Meridian Mobile’s new Fly E310 handset. With Opera Mini, Fly E310 mobile phone owners can browse all their favorite Web sites, including news, e-mail and social networks right on their handset.

The Fly E310 handset is available in the United Kingdom, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), with a pre-installed Opera Mini browser available in all the local languages.

“We are pleased to further our partnership with Meridian Group and bring the best mobile Web experience closer to our customers in the UK, Russia and the CIS,” says Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. “We have witnessed a significant growth in mobile Web browsing in those countries and work hard on making it even easier for people to get online.”

“We aim to provide our customers the best services available,” says Andrew Collinge, Member of the Board of Directors, Meridian Group. “When it comes to offering our customers a fast, secure and cost-efficient Internet service on a mobile phone, the popular Opera Mini browser offers the user an outstanding experience. Accessing the Web could not be easier, as Opera Mini brings the Web to our customers in local languages.”

Opera Software and Meridian Group have partnered since April 2007, delivering Opera Mini on mostly all handsets:

  • Fly SX210
  • Fly SX225
  • Fly LX500
  • Fly LX600 Mega
  • Fly LX610 Mega
  • Fly B600
  • Fly B700 Duo
  • Fly E110
  • Fly E300
  • Fly E310 Attitude
  • Fly MC100
  • Fly SX220
  • Fly V100
  • Fly HUMMER HT2

Since its launch in 2006, Opera Mini has become the world’s most popular mobile browser. According to Opera’s latest “State of the Mobile Web” report, 14.7 million people actively used Opera Mini in May 2008, viewing 2.9 billion pages per month.

About Meridian Group

Meridian Group, a part of the European-based Meridian Group, which pioneered the FMCG distribution in many parts of Europe, launched ‘Fly” about four years ago in East and Central Europe and has since emerged as a strong player in that market. Meridian Mobile has made quick inroads into the modern trade in less than a year, and is one of the fastest growing mobile phone brands in the world. Meridian Group has established a strong position in critical markets including Russia, India and the UK. Learn more about Fly mobile phones at www.fly-phone.com.