Idea Cellular has inked a deal with Opera Software to offer a customised Opera Mini mobile web browser to subscribers. Opera Mini is a mass-market web browser providing a rich web experience for smartphone users. In August 2011, Vodafone Essar and Opera Software had done a similar deal.

Idea customers will be able to download this co-branded version of Opera Mini on their devices from the end-March 2012. "In emerging markets like India, the mobile phone will soon become the primary way of accessing the Internet. We are arming ourselves with the best-in-class solutions for catering to this data-hungry population," said Shashi Shankar, Chief Marketing Officer, Idea Cellular.

"Operators such as Idea Cellular are driving mass awareness about mobile internet in the country. Opera Mini is the ideal enabler for the Web on all mobile phones, bringing the full Internet to all devices, regardless of device constraints and platform. As the mobile landscape in India grows and changes, we hope to work together with Idea Cellular and continue building value," said, Lars Boilesen, CEO of Opera Software.