From May 4, Opera will launch native ad-blocking technology both in the stable version of the desktop browser, as well as the Opera Mini mobile browser for Android.
By Nandagopal Rajan
Opera will launch native ad-blocking technology both in the stable version of the desktop browser, as well as the Opera Mini mobile browser for Android. From May 4, Opera will launch native ad-blocking technology both in the stable version of the desktop browser, as well as the Opera Mini mobile browser for Android. The move could have significant impact in many markets given that Opera is one of the top browsers.
We spoke to Krystian Kolondra, Opera Software’s Senior Vice President of Products responsible for Opera’s entire consumer products division, about the move:
What is the thought process behind a native ad blocker?
“Online ads slow down web browsing. Downloading ads wastes your time, and they make us wait for our content. We wanted websites to load faster. To secure even more speed than traditional ad blockers, we’ve been working on tackling the problem at its root, blocking ads right in the browser. With native code, and a faster process comparing to ad-blocking extensions, we’ve been able to release the built-in ad blocker to give your browsing a serious boost.”
Will this be on all opera browsers – mobile and web?
“Yes, both Opera Mini and Opera desktop browsers can now enjoy the ad blocking feature. A native ad blocker is integrated in the stable version of the Opera browser for computers, as well as the Opera Mini browser for Android. Some 60 million people use Opera for computers, while almost 120 million people use Opera Mini for Android on a monthly basis. These users no longer need to install an ad-blocking extension or download an app, to experience faster browsing.”