Google Becomes Default Search Engine For Opera's Mobile Browsers

Norwegian browser maker Opera has struck a deal to make Google (NSDQ: GOOG) the default search engine on the company's mobile web browsers, Opera Mobile and Opera Mini. The partnership is a good one for Google, which will see its search box sitting directly on the start page of both browsers. While Opera makes an internet browser as well, its best known for its free mobile browser Opera Mini, which the company claims has 35 million cumulative users browsing some 1.7 billion pages a month. Much of that traffic is apparently being generated through searches. Opera Mobile, geared toward more high end smartphones, and costs $24 to download, has shipped on more than 100 million phones (release).