Windows browser ballot boosts Opera
The Opera Web browser is experiencing a massive rise in popularity in Europe at the moment. All thanks to Microsoft.
Every new Windows PC comes bundled with Internet Explorer as the default Web browser. A fact which the EU wasn’t happy with. So it pushed for a change in Microsoft policy. A deal was eventually made which is seeing a browser ballot screen being pushed out to all computers running Windows operating systems in Europe.
This browser ballot screen prompts users to choose one of 12 browsers, which is then downloaded and installed. Why people couldn’t do this themselves without having their hands held is beyond me, but still, it seems to be having the desired effect.
According to InformationWeek, Opera is reporting a 153 percent increase in downloads across Europe since the browser ballot screen was rolled out. In Poland, Opera downloads are up a massive 328 percent, with Spain seeing a 215 percent increase, Italy 202 percent, and Denmark 198 percent.
Opera CTO Hakon Wium Lee said:
This confirms that when users are given a real choice on how they choose the most important piece of software on their computer, the browser, they will try out alternatives. A multitude of browsers will make the Web more standardized and easier to browse.
I’m guessing Opera won’t be the only browser to have gained because of this, and all at the expense of Internet Explorer.
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March 19th, 2010
so when is apple going to start using the ballot screen for their OS?