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Opera Founder Jon S. von Tetzchner Resigns Over Differences With Board

32 points by Indyan 15y ago

someone13 15y ago
Official press release here: http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2011/06/24/ http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2011/06/24/
bradleyland 15y ago
I'm probably being dense here, but is "more quarterly focused" a euphemism for "more revenue focused"? In long form, "more focused on quarterly earnings reports"?
- vessenes 15y ago
  Yep. Given Opera's history, my guess is that the board wants less of a 'true technology believer' and hasn't been happy with answers to the 'Come on, explain again about Chrome? Why don't we have that market share?' conversation.
  - brudgers 15y ago
    In the mobile market, Opera is the top browser. http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_browser-ww-monthly-201005-201105 http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_browser-ww-monthly-201005-...
    - phereford 15y ago
      Mobile browser market is small potatoes compared to desktop browser market :(.
      - zeddez 15y ago
        The bigger issue is that the mobile market is moving from one where operators decide on the browser to when where it already comes with the OS. Apple - included. Android - included. Windows phone - included. That's not to say that there isn't a role for after market browsers like Firefox and Opera, but the opportunity has significantly diminished. Given that mobile and operators has been the major source of revenue for Opera, the company might have some very challenging decisions to make.
    - mgkimsal 15y ago
      Is it the top on mobile devices that are growing? Longer term, being on Nokia (for example) while Apple and Google continue to grow can't be good for Opera's mobile share.
- eschutte2 15y ago
  I take it to mean "more focused on the short term." Re: the Chrome comparison, note that Chrome doesn't have revenue either.
millerc 15y ago
Stories like this make me reflect on woes that I've been suffering for a couple of years. As founders (whatever the scale), shouldn't we pay more attention to the loyalty of the people we take under our wing? It seems a fairly common occurence - in my career and at large - to see a good thing taken over by the people we bring for help. Personally, I wish I had paid attention to that 10 years ago, and I have a feeling that Tetzchner too.
ArabGeek 15y ago
this is a sad news i am a big fan of Jon and Opera :(
zeddez 15y ago
Not unexpected. Opera has a giant issue with remaining viable going forward. On the cost side - There is an increasing investment across the board by other browser vendors. Coupled with more extensive marketing. On the revenue side - They have negligeble share on the PC side. And the mobile market is moving from an operator controlled (where Opera thrives by charging operators) to one where browsers are already included. Opera needs to find a way to be relevant in the new and inevitable future.

32 points by Indyan 15y ago

Official press release here: http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2011/06/24/ http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2011/06/24/

bradleyland 15y ago

I'm probably being dense here, but is "more quarterly focused" a euphemism for "more revenue focused"? In long form, "more focused on quarterly earnings reports"?

vessenes 15y ago
Yep. Given Opera's history, my guess is that the board wants less of a 'true technology believer' and hasn't been happy with answers to the 'Come on, explain again about Chrome? Why don't we have that market share?' conversation.
- brudgers 15y ago
  In the mobile market, Opera is the top browser. http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_browser-ww-monthly-201005-201105 http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_browser-ww-monthly-201005-...
  - phereford 15y ago
    Mobile browser market is small potatoes compared to desktop browser market :(.
    - zeddez 15y ago
      The bigger issue is that the mobile market is moving from one where operators decide on the browser to when where it already comes with the OS. Apple - included. Android - included. Windows phone - included. That's not to say that there isn't a role for after market browsers like Firefox and Opera, but the opportunity has significantly diminished. Given that mobile and operators has been the major source of revenue for Opera, the company might have some very challenging decisions to make.
  - mgkimsal 15y ago
    Is it the top on mobile devices that are growing? Longer term, being on Nokia (for example) while Apple and Google continue to grow can't be good for Opera's mobile share.
eschutte2 15y ago
I take it to mean "more focused on the short term." Re: the Chrome comparison, note that Chrome doesn't have revenue either.

millerc 15y ago

Stories like this make me reflect on woes that I've been suffering for a couple of years. As founders (whatever the scale), shouldn't we pay more attention to the loyalty of the people we take under our wing? It seems a fairly common occurence - in my career and at large - to see a good thing taken over by the people we bring for help. Personally, I wish I had paid attention to that 10 years ago, and I have a feeling that Tetzchner too.

ArabGeek 15y ago

this is a sad news i am a big fan of Jon and Opera :(

zeddez 15y ago

Not unexpected. Opera has a giant issue with remaining viable going forward. On the cost side - There is an increasing investment across the board by other browser vendors. Coupled with more extensive marketing. On the revenue side - They have negligeble share on the PC side. And the mobile market is moving from an operator controlled (where Opera thrives by charging operators) to one where browsers are already included. Opera needs to find a way to be relevant in the new and inevitable future.