The cost of mobile data plans around the world have dropped a lot in recent years, but I’d hesitate to call them “cheap” just yet. It gets worse if you accidentally overshoot the prescribed limit. Which is why the launch of data compression app Opera Max in 16 other countries – including Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan – will definitely go some way in helping users to maximize their data usage and avoid much-dreaded bill shock.
Opera Max was previously only available in the US and Europe, and is a natural progression from its predecessor, the Opera Mini, which focused on compressing browser data only.
The free Android-only app claims to give its users “up to 50 percent more use out of their data plans.” What it does is to reroute data traffic requested by other apps on the mobile device to Opera’s cloud using a VPN, where it is then compressed.
The app also shows you how much data you have used so far, categorized by apps, in the form of a timeline. Naturally, it also toots its horn by visualizing exactly how much data you’ve saved. Well played, Opera.
According to Sergey Lossev, head of Opera Max at Opera Software, they are now looking to conquer the rest of the world. “We are continuing to roll out Opera Max to more countries, because we believe internet access is a fundamental right for all, and Opera Max makes this access more affordable for users,” he says.
See: Forget roaming – this tiny sticker gives you unlimited data in 55 countries
Editing by Terence Lee
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