We note a Chinese consortium, made of four Internet and investment firms, this week announced it will buy Opera Software of Norway for US$1.2 billion.

Opera is famous for mobile advertising, apps and browsers. Our WDS (Devices) service estimates Opera held 3% share of the global mobile phone browser market in 2015.

Assuming the takeover deal goes through, this should be seen as an early warning sign and wake-up call for Google Android, Apple iOS and Microsoft Windows.

It is clearer than ever that China’s tech industry is now actively adding FOREIGN (western) software trophies to its hardwareassets. China collectively already accounts for 1 in 3 of all smartphones and feature phones sold worldwide -- China's next strategic target is obviously mobile SOFTWARE.

We expect more mobile-software deals of this nature, led by Chinese companies, in the future.