The extended strategic partnership will offer VimpelCom a complete mobile internet engagement and monetization framework compatible with any mobile device, from feature phones to smartphones, which will enable VimpelCom to address any mobile internet customer needs, such as convenient 1-click purchases of mobile data and digital goods using their mobile account, or improving the mobile video customer experience.

The new framework will make available to VimpelCom operations the entire Opera portfolio of mobile internet products including Opera Web Pass, Skyfire Rocket Optimizer, Horizon and Opera Max that will be introduced in 2014.

With VimpelCom Web Pass, VimpelCom customers will enjoy a convenient and affordable mobile data experience through a simple one-click purchase, similar to how users buy apps today. Furthermore, carrier billing options will enable VimpelCom customers to use their mobile account and purchase apps and other digital goods.

With the introduction of Rocket Optimizer, VimpelCom customers will enjoy the best mobile video experience thanks to a cloud architecture that compresses video traffic before being downloaded over VimpelCom’s networks.

The Opera Max smartphone app will additionally enhance the customer experience by bringing device-wide optimization of text, images and streaming video.

Commenting on the announcement Mikhail Gerchuk, VimpelCom’s Group Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer, said: “Every day, millions of VimpelCom customers worldwide benefit from the fast mobile internet in a convenient and cost-effective way using their VimpelCom Opera Mini browser. By extending our strategic partnership with Opera we will bring an improved mobile Internet experience to all our customers. With VimpelCom Web Pass we are introducing to our customers the most convenient way to find and purchase mobile data bundles and content using their mobile account. We now have a strong toolkit which enables us to deliver the best mobile Internet customer experience while managing the explosion of mobile data traffic in our networks.”

“The boom in data-traffic services can be a headache for any mobile operator, but fortunately there are ways of handling the increased traffic,” says Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera Software. “We are very pleased to extend our partnership with VimpelCom and, in cooperation with them, offer VimpelCom subscribers easy access to data with an improved mobile internet experience. This translates into more active and satisfied users spending more time online being social and enjoying the content they love.”

Opera and VimpelCom aim to make Opera Web Pass available across VimpelCom’s operator brands in 17 countries. By bringing this service to over 220 million subscribers, Opera Software and VimpelCom are taking another step in extending their cooperation.

This latest agreement is part of VimpelCom’s consistent strategy of providing its customers with the best mobile internet experience, complementing its current partnerships with WhatsApp, Wikimedia, Google Play and Windows Phone stores to allow VimpelCom smartphone customers using their mobile accounts to pay for digital content. Under the previous agreement with Opera Software, VimpelCom provides its customers with a convenient mobile web browser optimized for basic phones.