2011/1/6 Shamit Verma subs.linux.mum@vshamit.com:
This percentage is based on number of http requests and unique users making those requests. On every http request, client sends a header to server to identify itself. This header indludes info on OS, Browser versions etc.
Thanks.
Statcounter, NetApplications and others take this data from Layer1 routers and poulblish aggregate data. Opera made its claim on these numbers.
Now, what is a "Layer1 router"?
Opera's claim is from analytics of its Opera Turbo system - which is an Opera-owned proxy that sits between Opera Mini and the actual website and takes up a bunch of processing (including running javascript).
Opera, when it is running on Samsung or Nokia or iOS identifies itself as Opera. So if you are using Nokia 6303:
1. If you use Nokia's built in browser, Header will report that as Nokia browser running on Symbian 2. If you use Opera Mini, Header will report that Opera running on Symbian
And what about case 3: Where a custom build of Opera Mini, based upon a private label deal between Opera and Nokia, is the built-in browser on the handset (as is the case in the Nokia 6303)?
To debunk Opera's claims, sum of Android + iOS is enough. Because that alone is 36% which is MUCH higher than Opera's share of total http requests.
Counting total HTTP requests obviously depends on whether Statscounter or whoever gets to see the request; Opera Mini in Turbo mode apparently doesn't allow them to do so.
Binand