Opera 6.0 for Linux released

Opera Software ASA on Wednesday released the final version of its Opera 6.0 for Linux browser.

A list of the new features in Opera 6 for Linux can be found at http://www.opera.com/linux/new. However, the new version is Opera's first foray into the Asian desktop Linux market, with added support for non-Roman alphabets. A localised browser will be released at a later date for these Japanese and Chinese users.

Opera says its earlier version for the Linux platform, Opera 5 for Linux, was downloaded and installed over one million times.

The company also released Opera 6.02 for Windows. This version introduces an SMS panel, which lets users send text messages to mobile phones directly from the browser. This SMS function is currently only available in Norway, but will expand to other countries in future releases of Opera. Another feature sees it placing the eBay and Download.com sites in the integrated search box.

Opera 6.0 for Linux and Opera 6.02 for Windows is available for free in an ad-sponsored version. After this download, users can register the browser for US$39 to remove the banner advertising.