Last month alone, Opera Mini generated more than 83 million MB of data for operators worldwide (as the suitably exponentially growing graph shows) - although its compression tech also cheated operators out of a further 746 million MB they could have charged for if the pages had been uncompressed.
In the UK, going by the number of unique users, Google comes out as the top site for Opera Mini users - perhaps unsurprising as a Google search bar is incorporated into the app's home screen. Facebook is the top social networking site and also the number two site overall after leapfrogging Yahoo.com. Bebo.com comes fifth overall and My Space trails both in a lowly tenth place overall.
The BBC is the top news source at number four, while YouTube complete the list of likely candidates at eighth.
Mobile Web growth in developed countries signals demand for ubiquitous connectivity
Opera's State of the Mobile Web examines page view statistics and top handsets throughout Europe, North America
Oslo, Norway - December 22, 2008
Fast facts
- In its final State of the Mobile Web report in 2008, Opera reviews the top sites and top phones for Opera Mini in both Europe and North America. Russia and Ukraine lead Europe, followed closely by the United Kingdom. The full report is available from http://www.opera.com/smw/.
- Released by AT&T in early November, the BlackBerry Bold made an immediate impact and is high on the list of top handsets preferred by Opera Mini users in the US.
- Facebook and MySpace are locked in a battle for mobile social networking supremacy in the United States. For the first time this year, Facebook has surpassed MySpace on the top 10 list in the U.S.
- Facebook is also successful in Europe, where other social networks such as Nasza Klasa in Poland and vKontakte in Russia and Ukraine, are consistently the top sites in their respective countries.
- Opera Mini users viewed more than 5.7 billion pages in November. Since October, page views have gone up 12.1%. Since November 2007, this number is up 303%.
- Data transfers also increased in line with page views. In November, Opera Mini users generated more than 82.9 million MB of data for operators worldwide. Since October, the data consumed went up by 12.5%. Data in Opera Mini is compressed 90% on average. If this data were uncompressed, Opera Mini users would have viewed over 829 million MB of data in November. Since November 2007, data traffic is up 463%.
Report Findings
The final State of the Mobile Web report for 2008 examines two of the most developed regions in the world: Europe and North America. For many countries in these regions, high mobile phone penetration coexists alongside high PC penetration and high broadband penetration. Consumers have the option of choosing either the mobile Web or the fixed Web, or both.
Whereas our reports on Africa and Southeast Asia often showed quadruple-digit page view growth in 2008, the numbers in more developed countries show moderate, yet still impressive gains. Page views in Opera Mini grew 200% since January 2008 in the United States. In Sweden, which enjoys some of the highest broadband penetration in the world, page views grew 58% in 2008. Sweden was one of the first countries to have access to Opera Mini in 2005, yet still exhibits exceptional growth.
In countries where broadband is widely available and PC penetration high, there is still high demand for the mobile Web. Yet in countries without easy access to broadband or PCs, the mobile Web is essential and the page-view metrics from previous State of the Mobile Web reports confirm this trend.
Supporting quote
"The numbers are clear: the mobile Web is growing around the world, even in countries where broadband penetration is high. In fact, it is growing because consumers are used to having ubiquitous access to the Web and expect to have it wherever they are," said Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera. "But the real promise of the mobile Web is in connecting those who do not have broadband readily available. The next billion people will use the Web first on their mobile phones. Once that happens we will finally both unleash the vast potential and realize the greatest benefit of the mobile Web."
About Opera Software ASA
Opera Software ASA has redefined Web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices. Opera's cross-platform Web browser technology is renowned for its performance, standards compliance and small size, while giving users a faster, safer and more dynamic online experience. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices around the world. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. Learn more about Opera at http://www.opera.com/.
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