MediaTek and Opera Software Partner to Extend Consumer Data Plans at No Cost

MediaTek and Opera Software have announced that Opera Max, a data-savings app for Android phones, will be embedded into MediaTek’s LTE System on a Chip (SoC).

The first two MediaTek SoCs to be shipped with Opera Max are the high-performing 64-bit LTE SoCs MT6752 and MT6732 chips. Opera Max will enable smartphones with these chips to consume half as much the data within the same monthly plan at no extra cost.

Opera Software has leveraged its market-leading video and data compression technology in Opera Max, which compresses video, photos and text across most apps and browsers on a smartphone by up to 50%, extending the life of a user’s data plans at no cost. The app also enables videos to start faster and take far less time buffering.

Users can easily monitor and manage the mobile data consumption of each app from Opera Max’s intuitive dashboard, which also reminds users when they are travelling away from their carrier’s network, so users can adjust their connectivity settings accordingly to avoid paying expensive roaming fees.

“This partnership validates MediaTek’s commitment to developing powerful and affordable chipsets to help manufacturers spur smartphone adoption in the Super-mid market - a new market structure comprising an unprecedented volume of premium mid-range devices worldwide. We want consumers to fully enjoy the 4G LTE multimedia experience while minimizing data costs associated with powerful smartphones,” said Jeffrey Ju, General Manager of the MediaTek Smartphone Business Unit.

“As mobile consumption grows with new data-hungry apps and mobile videos, compressing mobile data is more important than ever,” said Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera Software. “Opera has been a leader in mobile data compression for almost a decade, bringing millions of people online by lowering the barriers for accessing and enjoying the web. Today, we work with MediaTek, a market leader in cutting-edge system on chips for wireless communications, bringing Opera Max to their LTE chipsets and preparing smartphones for the next wave of data usage. Together, we are pushing the envelope for the entire mobile industry.”

MediaTek’s MT6752 is a 64-bit True Octa-core™ LTE SoC with eight 2.0GHz ARM® Cortex®-A53 CPUs and a Mali-T760 GPU – powerful enough to satisfy even the most demanding power-users. MT6732 is a 64-bit quad-core LTE SoC also based on ARM’s Cortex-A53 CPUs. Both target the emerging Super-mid market where consumers are seeking high-performance smart devices at an affordable price.