Opera Opens Up ‘All You Can Eat’ App Store

Opera has launched an “all you can eat” app store service that will allow mobile operators the chance to launch their own branded store offering the latest apps and content.

The Opera Subscription Mobile Store enables operators to set up subscription-based app stores, under their own brands.

Available across multiple devices and OSes – including Android, Java, Symbian, and BlackBerry, the store will come with access to the Opera Mobile Store’s 300,000 apps and games.

Opera will rotate and refresh the apps in the store to ensure that popular downloads such as Angry Birds and Minecraft remain available, with a steady stream of new apps created and added each week.

Active participants

Customers using the stores would pay a small weekly fee to download as many apps as they choose, a model which Opera says ensures a regular and recurring revenue stream.

“Our operator partners have been looking for innovative ways to introduce popular apps and games to their customers, and we’re delighted to enhance the Opera Mobile Store with a subscription-based model made just for them,” says Lars Boilesen, CEO at Opera Software.

“The subscription model ensures a regular and recurring revenue stream. Rather than having to watch from the sidelines while third-party stores collect all the revenues, operators can be an active participant in the app value chain.”

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Microsoft would be replacing the Nokia apps store with Opera’s Mobile Store as it looks to phase out the Nokia brand.

Starting in early 2015, Opera will become the default app store on Nokia Asha, S40, S60, Symbian and Nokia X devices, with the Nokia Store set to be shut down completely by the second half of the year.

Opera is already the default browser on Nokia-branded devices and Microsoft says it is indicative of its ongoing support for these “classic” devices as owners will continue to have access to a wide library of applications.

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