Netscape Communications Corp absorption into the American Online empire has raised hopes at tiny Norwegian outfit Opera Software that disaffected users will switch to its fast, independent browser, which has just been upgraded. Main improvements are support for Java and better compliance with Cascading Style Sheet CSS technology. Unfazed by asking users to pay $35 for what Microsoft and Netscape supply free, Opera is now working to extend its user base which it puts at 600,000 by producing versions for Macs, OS/2, Linux, BeOS and Psion. It is also now looking at the Windows CE market. The first versions for non-Windows operating systems are expected by the end of the year.
