Google, Opera Partner on Mobile Search

Google has been selected as the default search for Opera Mobile and Opera Mini, the browser's developer said Thursday. The search giant and Opera Software have entered into a one-year agreement, which would make Google a "major part of the browsers home screen," Opera said in a statement.

The Norwegian company has so far failed to create significant buzz surrounding its now-free Opera Web Browser, although it has kept a consistent and loyal following. Recent browser share surveys place Opera around a half-percent, far behind market leaders Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. But Opera has been making inroads in the mobile space, establishing itself as the de-facto browser on cell phones and portable devices.