A web browser for mobile users in China has launched that has an in-built social network.
Dubbed Oupeng, the browser is created by mHorizon Innovation, a joint venture between Opera Software and Telling Telecom, a mobile phone distributor in China.
The company says that the browser has a simple interface, but its social networking ability is its biggest strength. Oupeng has native support for Weibo – the leading social microblog service in China – and the browser aims to make it easy for users to log in and share comments and pictures. Oupeng also has features that automatically collects information from Weibo and presents it to the user.
“The launch of the Oupeng mobile browser will not only bring a new experience to Chinas mobile internet users, but also refine the mobile web market in China,” says Huang Shaowen, CEO of Telling Telecom. “Telling Telecoms powerful distribution channels will help Oupeng to get recognition and installation in the market quickly, so as to meet Chinese consumers increasing need for better products and applications in the mobile Internet era.” 
The Oupeng mobile browser is powered by Opera. Its rendering engine can work with full web pages, mobile web pages, and WAP pages. It supports zooming, and offers a download manager. The company says it consumes up to 90 per cent less data than other mobile browsers.
Erik C Harrell, chief financial officer at Opera Software, says: “The establishment of the joint venture with Telling Telecom and the launch of the new Oupeng mobile browser is an important part of Operas growth strategy in China. We have strong confidence in Oupengs future.”
