Microsoft has completed a deal with Internet browsing client Opera, which will see it become the default browser for low-end Nokia devices.
Opera Mini, which has more than 250 million users across a number of platforms, will become the default browser for Nokia Series 30+, Series 40 and Asha platforms.
New entry-level Microsoft phones, which don’t run on Windows Phone, will come with the Opera Mini browser pre-installed. Meanwhile, existing owners of these devices will be prompted to upgrade to the browser.
Microsoft is certainly making a big push into the entry-level sector, marked by the recent release of the $25 Nokia 130.
Additionally, it has announced that it plans to add more built-in software to these devices in the future. The tech giant has confirmed that Skype and its cloud storage service OneDrive will also be appearing on basic Nokia phones soon.
Analysts claim that this may be a move to influence new users of the Microsoft ecosystem to stick with the brand when they upgrade to a smartphone.
Opera CEO had the following to say on his firm’s deal with Microsoft: “This is a great opportunity to spread the benefits of Opera Mini to millions more consumers in our core markets. There are still massive numbers of people who have not moved to smartphones, but Opera Mini can provide them with an amazing browsing experience right now.”
Microsoft’s low-end Nokia devices are its foothold in emerging markets in Asia and Africa.
