Google Lands Default Search Position In Opera Mobile

The mobile phone versions of the Opera browser will now come with Google (GOOG) as the default search engine.

The new deal applies to Opera Mini and Opera Mobile; the desktop version of Opera already offers Google as the default search engine. Opera’s mobile versions currently have an install base of 35million users.

The financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but it would be fair to guess that Google just paid its way into Opera’s mobile user base at the expense of Yahoo (YHOO), the previous paying provider.

The deal is effective March 1 and applies everywhere except within the borders of the former Soviet Union.