Opera’s latest trick for its desktop browser is built-in currency conversion. The company added a VPN and an ad blocker in two major releases this year, and now it is simplifying things for the growing numbers of people who make international purchases online or happen to live overseas.
The new feature is simple. You can set the browser to automatically show foreign currency prices in your currency of choice. That allows you to get a quick conversion when you highlight a price, using the daily exchange rate from the European Central Bank. Given the rate of speed that Amazon, Alibaba and others are making cross-border trade happen worldwide, that could be a nifty feature for many Opera stalwarts.
“Cross-border e-commerce is booming all around the world. According to research, within four years, 45 percent of online shoppers worldwide will purchase products from foreign online stores.” Opera’s Krystian Kolondra pointed out in a blog post. “There are many countries, in which more than 50 percent of people do it already.”
The latest Opera for desktop release is version 42, which also celebrates the company’s twentieth year making browsers. Other new additions to this release include redesigned personal feeds for tracking news, and a faster boot up time.
Opera’s browser business is in the process of being sold to a Chinese consortium led by Qihoo 360 for $600 million. In total, the acquisition will see the transfer of Opera’s mobile and desktop browser operations, its performance and privacy apps, its tech licensing not including Opera TV, and Opera’s 29 percent stake in Chinese joint venture nHorizon. A initial $1.2 billion deal to acquire entire company collapsed, meaning that Opera’s other business units — its Mediaworks ad business, apps and games unit, and Opera TV business — are not part of the final acquisition and will remain independent.
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