HYDERABAD: Microsoft is likely to launch smartphones with Opera Mini as default browser from early next year, an official of the browser firm said recently.

The IT giant, which bought phone maker Nokia, entered into an agreement with Oslo-based Opera Software a couple of months ago.

"They have product roadmap but from early next year you will see these devices in the market with our browser," said Sunil Kamath, Vice-President for South Asia, Opera Software.

He told reporters here that the devices would be first launched in India, which is their biggest and fastest market.

"India is the largest and fastest market in terms of Opera Mini users. I don't think there is any mobile browser closer to us," he said.

Sunil said globally the browser firm has over a billion users, including 350 million users of Opera browser. While declining to share country-specific figures, he said the user base in India for Opera Mini is growing by 25 percent.

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