http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/67826

This news does not come as a big surprise, as there were rumours that Google and Mircosoft are interested in acquiring the Norwegian browser vendor, which has its browsers primarily installed in mobile phones.

While the cooperation seems yet another loss of face for Microsoft, what Google has really in mind from this cooperation is yet to be seen  Next to the obvious PC environment, I could imagine that both could be interested in developing vertical market applications. Opera had played with the idea for some time but obviously lacked the financial means to start anything substantial other than look at the big market opportunities. Now with Google this could become an interesting game. If successful we can of course expect that Google will take them over. This should not be a big issue as long as the price is right - and Google can make it right.