Opera’s Sponsored Web Pass gives you free mobile internet for watching ads

Did you know that people like free stuff? Opera knows, which is why it’s now launching an ad-supported version of its Web Pass platform. Mobile operators can now easily take advantage of this tool to not only sell duration-based passes, but to also offer them for free. The catch? You just have to watch an ad before each session begins, which doesn’t sound too painful.

Bowser-maker Opera is shaking up the mobile advertising market just a little, after it introduced Sponsored Web Pass, a new version of its pay-as-you-go Web Pass service that effectively gives phone owners free mobile Internet in exchange for watching sponsored messages. The Norwegian company, which counts 350 million users worldwide, explains that advertisers work with operators to select from a range of free offers for would-be viewers, such as one day of free mobile Internet access, or an hour of Twitter. The offers can only be redeemed inside Opera’s browser, so this doesn’t mean unfettered access to apps and other services.