Facebook looking to acquire web browser maker Opera

A recent report shows the social network giant could be looking at buying Norwegian company, Opera Software.

Now fully under the watchful eye of Wall Street as well as Main Street investors, Facebook is trying to solve its mobile monetising problems and has been gobbling up various companies in recent months to increase its presence in the world of smartphones.

If the latest report is accurate, the Menlo Park-based company’s next target could be Opera.

The Opera browser is available on desktop computers, various phones and tablets and even the Nintendo Wii, and the company claims to have more than 200 million users, according to the report.

As of last week, Google’s Chrome is the top browser, followed by Microsoft, Mozilla and Apple’s respective browsers, and Thursday, Yahoo jumped into the latest round of the “browser wars” with its new product, named Axis.

“The move – which would no doubt send shivers of panic through Google – although unlikely to affect Chrome’s continued growth in the short term, would see the two tech giants battle it out on your desktop and mobile for web surfing as well as social networking,” Pocket-lint said.

Adding credibility to the rumour is also reported a source close to Opera saying the company has been looking for potential buyers.

The anonymous source said Opera is talking to possible buyers and has instituted a hiring freeze, which is a potential sign that something big could happen – or at least that Opera wants something big to happen.”

The source could not confirm whether Facebook was one of the potential buyers, but did say such a deal would make sense.

Neither company are confirming or denying the rumour.