WebProNews

The Oslo-based maker of the Opera web browser may have been acquired by Microsoft, which may have beaten Google in bidding for the company. Maybe.

Recently, chatter around the web claimed Google was purchasing Opera to obtain its browser business. Given Opera's strength on the mobile platform, it looked like Google was going to enhance its presence on cellphones this way.

CoolTechZone has cited an unnamed insider at Microsoft who claimed the deal was nearly finalized and an announcement was imminent. The report noted the appeal Opera's mobile browser could have for Microsoft, as well as bringing the PC-based version's advanced technology to the world's biggest tech company.

Google and Microsoft both wanted Opera. In the end, Microsoft reportedly outbid Google, something it didn't do for AOL. However, like the Google-Opera story, this all could turn out to be false again.

The day after stories circulated about Google buying Opera, Opera CFO Christian Jebsen told Reuters that it wasn't happening. "We have heard the rumors but know nothing more about this," he said.

We'll have to wait and see. It's likely that if this rumor proves true, Google would lose its place as default search option in future versions of Opera.

UPDATE! ZDNet UK is reporting that Microsoft is not buying Opera either.

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David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.