Mobiltel, part of Telekom Austria Group, in association with Vodafone, will offer Opera Mini in Bulgaria
Sofia, Bulgaria – May 19, 2011
Today Mobiltel and Opera Software announced that, through their partner market agreement with Vodafone, they will offer a customized version of the Opera Mini mobile browser for the first time in Bulgaria. This will bring Mobiltel’s customers a faster mobile web experience and access to unique content on their mobiles via the world’s most popular mobile browser.
Vodafone has a global agreement with Opera Software that enables Vodafone and its local partners to roll out a customized Opera Mini client, which is called Vodafone Internet by Opera Mini. Thanks to this partnership, more than five million Mobiltel clients in Bulgaria will soon have access to a unique mobile web experience.
The Opera Mini mobile browser works on more than 3000 different mobile phone models, from basic feature phones to high-end smartphones. The customized version of the browser will bring users in Bulgaria an innovative compression technology and a unique set of preconfigured local websites and services. Beyond the wide range of handsets with the Opera Mini browser preinstalled, Mobiltel subscribers will also be able to download it for free from live.mtel.bg or by sending an SMS with “opera” to 124. The service will offer free-of-charge unlimited browsing during a one-month period.
“Opera Mini has become the most loved mobile web adventure in the world,” said Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera Software. “The reason is that everyone can join, regardless of whether they use a smartphone or feature phone. We are happy that Telekom Austria Group, one of the most innovative operators in Europe, will help us to expand this adventure in Central Europe.”
“Opera Mini is the most used mobile Internet browser in the world and provides our customers, using a range from low cost handsets to smartphones, with an even faster full Internet experience by using less data,” said Andreas Maierhofer, Chief Executive Officer, Mobiltel.
Paul-Gerhard Itjeshorst, Partner Markets Head of Europe at Vodafone Group, said: “The roll-out of our customized Opera Mini proposition with Telekom Austria Group is another step in strengthening the relationship between the three parties. We are continually bringing customized versions of Opera Mini to new regions where Vodafone and its partners operate, and we believe even more subscribers will get to enjoy it in the future.”
About Telekom Austria Group
The Telekom Austria Group, listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since November 2000, is the leading telecommunications provider in Central and Eastern Europe with more than 22 million customers across its markets of operations. The Group is currently operating in eight countries: Austria (with the newly merged A1 Telekom Austria), Slovenia (Si.mobil), Croatia (Vipnet), the Republics of Serbia (Vip mobile) and Macedonia (Vip operator), Bulgaria (Mobiltel), Belarus (Velcom) and Liechtenstein (mobilkom liechtenstein). The total market of the eight countries covers about 41 million inhabitants. The Group has more than 16,500 employees, and revenues were EUR 4.7 billion as of year-end 2010. Telekom Austria Group’s portfolio encompasses products and services of voice telephony, broadband Internet, multimedia services, data and IT solutions, wholesale as well as m-payment solutions. More detailed information is available at http://www.telekomaustria.com.
About Vodafone
Vodafone is one of the world’s largest mobile communications companies by revenue with approximately 343 million customers in its controlled and jointly controlled markets as at 30 September 2010. Vodafone currently has equity interests in over 30 countries across five continents and over 40 partner networks worldwide. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com.