Chinese wireless value-added services firm KongZhong (KONG) will develop a a browser for Chinese mobile phone users with Kong.net as the default home page.

    The "Kong Zhong Opera" browser is being built with Opera Software and is expected to be offered for downloading at no charge and can enable mobile phone users to browse both traditional Internet sites and WAP sites through their mobile phones. KongZhong and Opera expect to generate and share advertising revenues, search- related revenues and other revenues from the browser.

    Nick Yang, Kong Zhong's president, said, "As the developer of the very popular Opera Browser, Opera has a large following among users of PCs, mobile phones, pocket PCs, game consoles and interactive televisions. Meanwhile, Kong.net, operated by KongZhong, is one of the leading wireless Internet portals in China. This cooperation between KongZhong and Opera allows us to bundle and present to mobile phone users in China the best products of the two companies."