Opera Software today announced that the Opera Devices SDK 9.7 has been selected by ZiiLABS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Creative Technology Ltd., to bring full Web browsing and a Web application environment to its new developer platform, the handheld Zii EGG StemCell Computer. Currently, a fully integrated version of the Opera browser is offered by ZiiLABS for Devices on their ZMS-05 applications processor. The Zii EGG is the first device to use the ZMS-05 chipset complete with the company’s freshly launched Linux-based Plaszma operating system.

The Zii EGG provides developers with a compelling platform upon which to develop new and unique Web applications. Opera delivers the necessary Web tools to create useful content and services including news feeds, Web mail, weather updates, social networking and other advanced Web applications. In this “developer edition”, the Zii EGG helps developers, system integrators and OEMS to create develop powerful new solutions for the mass market.

“We are excited to introduce our mutual customers to the power of Opera running on the Zii EGG StemCell Computer, based on ZMS-05. Opera has made it a priority to work closely with silicon vendors in order to create winning solutions that not only exceed customer expectations, but help them get their devices to the masses even faster,” said Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. “ZiiLABS shares Opera’s vision of delivering valuable solutions that will reduce time-to-market and make a positive impact on the device ecosystem.”

“By including Opera on the Zii EGG, we are providing customers with yet another way to get Web browsing and advanced Web applications on the market even faster,” said Lee Teck Chee, Chief Software Officer, ZiiLABS. “We chose to pre-integrate Opera on our ZMS-05 chipsets so that end customers could have a fully integrated and optimized solution that frees them from spending numerous engineering hours on incorporating new features and essential plug-ins.”