The popular Opera browser was often promoted as the fastest web browser on earth. And now it removes its advertising banners and licensing fee.

As per an Opera press release

“Opera Software today permanently removed the ad banner and licensing fee from its award-winning Web browser. The ad-free, full-featured Opera browser is now available for download – completely free of charge � at http://www.opera.com.”

“Today we invite the entire Internet community to use Opera and experience Web browsing as it should be,” said Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. “Removing the ad banner and licensing fee will encourage many new users to discover the speed, security and unmatched usability of the Opera browser.”

Opera includes pop-up blocking, tabbed browsing, integrated searches, and advanced functions like Opera’s groundbreaking E-mail program, RSS Newsfeeds and IRC chat. And they still offer 1 year premium support via e-mail (English only) for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X for a price. They can help you install and upgrade, migrate from another browser, configure and customize and resolve support issues.

Opera free support helps you find tutorials aimed to further your skills as an Opera user, as well as assistance in troubleshooting any problems. On its 10-year online anniversary party as a sign of gratitude for the community’s continuing support, Opera gave away free complimentary registration codes for 24 hours.

Opera is a wonderful browser and I used it for a long time, before firefox came in and I switched.

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