Headquarters visited Opera in Oslo

What comes to mind when you hear the word Opera? One might think is a web browser (browsers) with the icon "O" the familiar red color is used the user to surf the Internet, both in cell phones, tablet, or desktop. In the eyes of netters, Opera is not foreign, but in fact, probably not many people know that the browser is from Norway. Opera is a product developed by a software company named Opera Software ASA.

Opera Software is headquartered in the City of Oslo. Initially, Opera from a research project initiated in 1994 in Norway's telecom company, Telenor. Lapse a year later, the project has evolved into an independent company named Opera Software ASA. From the beginning, only managed about seven people, Opera Software has now developed rapidly into an international company that employs about 700 employees come from dozens of countries including Indonesia.

A few days ago, along with dozens of other journalists from several countries, Kompas.com had the opportunity visited central office (Headquarter) Opera in Oslo. This visit is one of the agenda on the sidelines of the implementation of Up North Web 2011, an annual event held grand Opera to introduce their browser development and trends in the future.

Located not far from the heart of Oslo, which has headquarters Opera teenager looks modern but simple. Nothing fancy or exaggerated impression of the office led by Chief Excecutive Officer (CEO) Lars Boilesen it. Simple, flexible but functional, that's probably the most suitable phrase to describe buildings that became an important part of the Opera during this trip.

Official address in Thranes Waldemar Road Gate 98, Opera Software's headquarters are located in a five-story building near sungat Akerselva. Nothing flashy from the headquarters of the Opera because it's almost similar to surrounding buildings. But here, there are many unexpected things that might be found. For example, the entrance to the office of the Opera proved to be only a small glass door marked red logo Opera Software. This is the main access door into the building, where the Opera only occupy two of the five floors, the floor 2 and 4.

To get to the office of the Opera, the group should play up the stairs and through a small alley. No lift available to employees or guests to visit this office. Really simple is not it?

Group of journalists including Kompas.com and Magazines InfoKomputer warmly welcomed at reception with coffee and snack treats. Then we were guided by one of the staff of the Opera, Zara Lauder, traveled to some corner of the office.

The group then briefly explore room by room, starting from the work space officials and employees, cafeteria, library, meeting room, recreation room, fitness room, to the daycare. Each floor in the building of the Opera headquarters connected by a staircase, with doors and a narrow road with no clear directions. Entrance to the headquarters of the Opera is like along a labyrinth that can make everyone astray.

Most of the work space at the headquarters of Opera's small size, designed a minimalist but functional. In some rooms, the dominance of the red color typical of the Opera looked lumpy. In addition to providing full facilities, a working system that is flexible enough to make the employees become more comfortable working.

Zara said, the employees are based in the center of the Opera building in Oslo only about 400 people and most of the people of Norway. While the rest scattered in several satellite offices in several cities namely in Linkoping, Goteborg, Stockholm (Sweden), Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Melbourne (Australia) San Mateo (USA), St. Petersburg (South Africa), Wroclaw, Warsaw (Poland), Taipei, Chandigargh (India) and Reykjavik (Iceland).

With employees from almost all over the world, the diversity of cultures and traditions from around the world can be fused at the headquarters of the Opera. The relationship between employees also always dieratkan through several corporate activities, such as cooking activity by employees of certain countries to then be enjoyed by hundreds of other employees.

To be sure, the diversity of culture created by the Opera in markasanya is unique. This is their efforts to understand the needs of users worldwide. For opera, every individual is very unique. Hence, they are always working to create a browser with features that can be customized (personalized) to the needs of everyone.