Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 17:54:34 -0500
To: lwn@lwn.net
From: Katherine Barrios <Kathy@opera.no>
Subject: Opera 5.02 Launches Web  Browser for Linux, Beta 6

Dear Michael:  

Today, the Norwegian rebel Web Browser, Opera 5.02, "The Fastest Browser on
the Earth," launched the Beta 6 version for the Linux platform.  Due to the
unprecedented success of Opera 5.02 for Windows (2 million downloads in its
first month), Opera Software has decided to offer the Linux version for
free as well.

The previous Beta versions have received an enthusiastic response from the
Linux-community and are widely considered by critics to be the best browser
available for the platform.  The Opera Web Browser has become a driving
force in the PC market and has also been noted to be a major player in the
wireless area.  Opera has signed contracts with Qualcomm, Psion, and
Ericsson with many more to come.


Like the Windows version, Opera 5.02 for Linux will offer two options for
download. The user has the choice to download a free, ad-supported version
with all features and functionality or a registered version at a charge of
$39 that removes the ads. The price for the registered version of Opera
remains the same as with the previous versions, with various discounts
applying.

Opera Software AS is an industry leader in the development of Web Browsers
for the desktop and device markets. The Opera browser has received
international acclaim from end-users and the industry press for being
faster, smaller (2MB, 9 MB with Java, 17 minutes to download) and more
standards-compliant (W3C) than other browsers. Opera Software AS is a
privately held company headquartered in Oslo, Norway.

I invite you to visit www.opera.com and download the Linux version, in
order to get a feel of the browser, and also invite you to visit the
pressroom, which has many answers to any questions you may have at
www.opera.com/pressdcwbhvbwi.

Below you will find the pertaining press release. I hope you are able to
include Opera in a technology brief and/or review.  Please feel free to
contact me at Kathy@opera.no or at 305-336-3389.

Cheers!!!!!

Katherine Barrios
PR Specialist
Opera Software A.S.
Waldemar Thransegt.98
0175 Oslo, Norway
Telephone: 47 24 16 44 07
Fax: 47 24 16 40 01
Miami: 305-336-3389
************************ 
The Browser War expands to more platforms:
Opera Version 5 Continues Its Success with Free Releases for Linux 

New York, NY - Feb. 12, 2000 - Opera Software today announces that the final releases of its Linux and browser will be 
available for free to all users. The decision means that Opera's Web Browser for Linux will be in the successful Version 5 series 
of the Opera family of Web Browsers. 

The December 6th release of the free Opera Version 5 for Windows was met with enthusiasm from both users and critics around 
the world. Over two million copies were downloaded in the first month, in addition to the 10 million distributed in CD form to 
computer magazines. 

"By releasing free versions of our Linux browser, we further escalate the Browser War," says Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera 
Software. "We will now be present with free versions on all the major desktop platforms, and we expect that our unique Internet 
experience over time will capture a significant market share in all of them."

The status of the browser is:
- The latest version of Opera Version 5 for Linux, Beta 6 - launched today on Opera's homepage, www.opera.com. The 
previous Beta versions have received an enthusiastic response from the Linux-community and are widely considered by critics to 
be the best browser available for the platform.

Like the Windows version, Opera for Linux will offer two options for download. The user has the choice to download a free, ad-
supported version with all features and functionality or a registered version at a charge of $39 that removes the ads. The price for 
the registered version of Opera remains the same as with the previous versions, with various discounts applying.

Opera Software AS is an industry leader in the development of Web Browsers
for the desktop and device markets. The Opera browser has received international acclaim from end-users and the industry press 
for being faster, smaller and more standards-compliant than other browsers. Opera Software AS is a privately held company 
headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Learn more about Opera at www.opera.com

Contacts: 
Katherine Barrios, Kathy@opera.no, 305-336-3389