Opera Software finds itself in a funny position having launched its popular Opera 11 browser on Apple’s Mac App Store on Tuesday. Despite the fact that the software merely allows access to websites, Apple has placed a restriction on the browser, meaning that only users over seventeen years of age are able to download it.
Judging by the company’s blog post, Opera isn’t too worried. Jan Standal, VP of Desktop Products for Opera Software appears “concerned” but mocks the classification, stating:
“Seventeen is very young, and I am not sure if, at that age, people are ready to use such an application. It’s very fast, you know, and it has a lot of features. I think the download requirement should be at least 18.”
Opera isn’t worried because it already enjoys millions of downloads of its products worldwide. The Mac App Store is just another distribution method, one that will still ensure a high percentage of Mac users can enjoy Opera’s browser (the number of younger Mac owners here is negligible).
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To circumvent the restriction, Opera simply asks users to head to the Opera website to download the application directly. Here, Opera says, “we do not ask for your age or your credit card number. Please, get your parents’ permission before using this browser.” – taking another sly dig at Apple.
Opera is the first third-party browser to hit the Mac App Store, will other software companies follow suit if this restriction stays in place?
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