Opera Mini will become the default web browser for Microsoft’s existing feature phones and Asha phones portfolio, Opera Software today announced. The licensing agreement signed between Microsoft and Opera applies to mobile phones based on the Series 30+, Series 40 and Asha software platforms.

As part of the agreement, people who use the current browser for these phones, Xpress, will be encouraged to upgrade to the latest Opera Mini browser. Factory-new devices will have Opera Mini pre-installed.

Opera Mini is a popular web browser that works on almost any phone. It has a built-in compression technology that allows people to save on mobile data. Opera Mini currently has around 250 million users, over 100 million of these on Android smartphones.

"We continue to sell and support classic first and feature phones as well as the Asha range, which have performed well with millions of people who want new mobile experiences at lower price points," said Rich Bernardo, head of legacy business, Phones, Microsoft. "The agreement with Opera will enable us to provide continuity of service as we transition from Xpress Browser to Opera Mini."