Despite being primarily known for its web browsers, Opera has boosted its distribution business, acquiring Handster, an app store platform company that claims the largest independent Android content library.
Handster is based in Illinois, US, though also with an office in Odessa, Ukraine, and provides content for Android, Java, Symbian, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, netbook and tablet platforms.
Handster CEO and founder Victor Shaburov will be joining the Opera team at its San Mateo headquarters in California.
Go compare apps
"Opera is evolving from being a browser company into a fully integrated mobile services company and this acquisition is an important step in that direction." said Opera CEO Lars Boilesen.
"We are delighted to welcome the Handster team into the Opera family. Handster will enable us to strengthen our mobile store offerings to consumers, mobile operators and handset manufacturers,"
Shaburov was also excited by the future prospects for Handster and Opera after the buyout.
"Handster could not have found a better suitor," he said.
"The combination of our platform, along with Opera's position in the market, will make a big impact on the mobile ecosystem, benefiting developers, publishers, operators and handset manufacturers around the world."
Opera opened its own app store in March 2011, using white label outfit Appia, partly to push the distribution of its mobile browsers.
It recently got kicked out of GetJar for distributed its own app store though the rival.
[source: Opera]
News
When Matt was 7 years old he didn't write to Santa like the other little boys and girls. He wrote to Mario. When the rotund plumber replied, Matt's dedication to a life of gaming was established. Like an otaku David Carradine, he wandered the planet until becoming a writer at Pocket Gamer.
Related Articles
Top Stories
News
3 hours, 4 minutes ago
Subway Surfers Classic update set to take players back to the game's origins
News
3 hours, 4 minutes ago
A third of developers implementing new payment options in face of Digital Markets Act’s $18 billion opportunity
News
3 hours, 34 minutes ago
More Xbox cutbacks hit ZeniMax with only Microsoft’s mobile ventures now unscathed
News
5 hours, 4 minutes ago
Chinese publisher iDreamSky opens office in Riyadh for first international expansion
News
3 hours, 4 minutes ago
A third of developers implementing new payment options in face of Digital Markets Act’s $18 billion opportunity
Feature
May 7th, 2024
Mobile Mavens: The industry has its say on Squad Busters ability to draw in “untapped audiences” with its “influence from a range of genres”
Feature
May 7th, 2024
Hot Five: Supercell’s Squad Busters supremacy, Brawl Stars bounces back, and a games industry journey at King
Events
Valencia Indie Summit 2024 | Europe | May 16th |
Digital Dragons | Europe | May 19th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Israel Mobile Summit 2024 | Middle East | Jun 6th |
Future Games Show 2024 | Jun 8th | |
PC Gaming Show 2024 | Jun 9th | |
WN Conference Istanbul 2024 | Jun 11th | |
DevGAMM Vilnius 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |