Opera Goes Free with Version 8.5

Opera has decided to launch a fully free, ad-less version of its desktop browser version 8.5.

Opera, the dark horse of web browsing, is now completely free. The ad-bar is gone, the licensing fee is gone and all that made Opera different from the other run of the mill browsers is yours without having to part with a dime. Enjoy "first" features such as native BitTorrent downloading support (currently in beta), voice controlled browsing, mouse gestures, session control and advanced browsing features such as fast forward and zooming - all for free.

Opera has had its dedicated fan following ever since the early versions came out with an endless list of innovative features that everyone wanted, but no one was quite ready to accept. Not because they weren't useful, but simply because Opera was not free.

In the age of operating systems with free integrated web browsers and popular free alternatives, no one was willing to pay $40 to get "a better browsing experience." As they realized this, they started a free, ad-supported version of the browser which also didn't go down too well with the community that had just waged war on adware and spyware creeping into and taking over the gullible users' computers.

Even version after version of innovative features, the $40-or-ads model was not working out as well as they hoped it would. Opera continued to enjoy a niche fan following and became an enthusiast product, but it still wasn't mainstream. Meanwhile, Firefox had already begun its ascent to the throne in the browser wars. This added another layer of competition to an already stiff ballgame. They had to do something, and they did.

Opera is now also available in two local languages, Hindi and Punjabi, which they hope will help them gain a wider userbase from non-English Internet users in the country. "By making Opera free and available in local languages , we hope we are able to reach out to more Indian users," said Divisha Chandna, Distribution Manager for the Desktop version of Opera.

While Opera for Desktop PCs has become free, Opera for Mobile shall continue to be a paid-for product, costing US$29 for the Series 60 and Windows Mobile versions.