So we have a company that just went public as it managed to raise one of the largest capital in the history of any living organism ($16 billion if you insist on the specifics) and its young CEO already proved he is willing to pour shitloads of money to get his hands on something.
The question is, not if but what is the next thing lil’ Mark will decide to take over? A Norwegian browser company perhaps?
Yes this is true, strong rumors are whispering that Facebook is apparently coveting the old big happy browser familia and its parent company, Opera Software. Facebook monster is hungry… Needs more internet control… Master Zuck not wanting web friends… Fu*k off Googlish, Microsoftish, Applish and recently Yahooish Cyclopes…
Alright, back to reality. A super-secret source has informed The Next Web that the top shot callers of Opera Software are sick of running solo and looking for new wealthy daddy and mommy to hold their hands in the stormy climate of today’s virtual world. Although the inside dude didn’t named Facebook as a possible adopter, he/she/it stated “it would make sense”.
The nerdish spy also revealed to TNW that Opera also decided to put on hold any new recruiting efforts which perhaps implying that the Norwegians are up to something big. Or they wish something big will happen. Or they decided to close their more than 700 employee community to evil outsiders. Yeah, probably one of the first two options.
If indeed Facebook will swallow Opera, the social networking company will have to spill a generous sum. Opera Software is a publicly traded company on the Oslo Stock Exchange since 2004 and its worth about 4.1 billion Norwegian Kroner which translates to around $680 million U.S. Dollars. That is without considering incentive premiums of course…
But why does Facebook needs to own its own web browser to begin with and why Opera? Well, first it will reinforce its feeble mobile strategic state- Opera disclosed that on March its mobile browser Opera Mini had nearly 169 million users, which reflects a jump of 64% within a year, and that it served 117 billion web pages.
Second, if Facebook wishes to enter the browser wars it might be more worthwhile to acquire a trusted company with an established user-base than developing everything from thin air. According to StatCounter, Opera is the most popular mobile browser with almost 22% of the mobile market worldwide. Its desktop browser performs worse and holds around 2% of the world market.
Third, it will assist Facebook to know even more the users. Oh yes, all this precious human data that every tech company loves and desires so much which can help understand better each and every user and serve him the most suitable content and advertising as possible…
Even though all signs are currently pointing at Facebook as the potential buyer, I wouldn’t be surprised if eventually, I don’t know, Google will acquire it. Or Microsoft. Or Apple. Or Yahoo. Or even AOL. What? Crazier things have happened (ha!).
