UCWeb explained
UCWeb Inc. (also known as UC Mobile) is a Chinese mobile Internet company that offers products and services that include mobile browser, UC News, and search engine services. Its flagship product, UC Browser, topped the Chinese, Indonesian and Indian markets in 2013.[2] [3]
Description
UCWeb was founded in 2004 as a mobile browser maker. Over the past decade, it diversified to areas such as mobile search, mobile gaming, mobile reading, etc.[4] [5] According to iResearch, in 2014, the company's UC Browser was the most popular browser of its kind in China, with more than 66% market share.[6] It's available in 11 languages (English, Hindi, Russian, Indonesian, Vietnamese, etc.) and on all major mobile OS platform (iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Java ME, Blackberry, etc.). As of March 2014, UC Browser had over 500 million users around the globe.[7]
In April 2014, UCWeb and Alibaba Group jointly announced the formation of a JV named Shenma Inc. that offers a mobile-only search engine in China.[8] [9]
In June 2014, UCWeb was acquired by Alibaba Group in the largest Chinese Internet merger deal. This will see UCWeb form the Alibaba UC mobile business group by assimilating and consolidating part of mobile-related businesses within the Alibaba Group.[10] [11] After the merger, under the leadership of Yu Yongfu, chief executive of UCWeb since 2006, the Alibaba UC mobile business group will oversee the browser, search, location-based service, app store, mobile gaming, and mobile reader operations.[12] [13] [14]
In 2015 it was revealed as part of the Snowden leaks that UCBrowser leaks sensitive IMSI, IMEI and MSISDN data, which was used by intelligence agencies to track users.[15] [16]
Notes and References
- Web site: Alibaba Group Completes Full Acquisition and Integration of UCWeb . 2014-06-11 . Alibaba Group.
- https://archive.today/20140711181410/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=46476173 company profile
- http://pando.com/2013/08/21/ucweb-becomes-first-chinese-internet-company-to-hit-no-1-in-india-adds-jack-ma-to-board/ UCWeb becomes first Chinese Internet company to hit No. 1 in India, adds Jack Ma to board
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-16/alibaba-backed-ucweb-scouts-for-mobile-acquisitions.html Alibaba-Backed UCWeb Scouts for Mobile Acquisitions
- http://www.pocketgamer.biz/asia/interview/59286/how-ucweb-grew-its-dominant-mobile-browser-position-in-china-to-create-the-uc-9game-platform/ How UCWeb grew its dominant mobile browser position in China to create the UC 9Game platform
- http://report.iresearch.cn/2107.html 2013年中国手机浏览器行业分析报告
- https://thenextweb.com/asia/2014/03/21/mobile-browser-maker-ucweb-another-global-tech-firm-under-the-radar-crosses-500m-users/ Mobile browser-maker UCWeb, another global tech firm under the radar, crosses 500m users
- http://www.marketwatch.com/story/alibaba-ucweb-plan-mobile-search-joint-venture-2014-04-28 Alibaba, UCWeb plan mobile-search joint venture
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2014/04/28/alibaba-ucweb-team-up-in-mobile-search/ Alibaba, UCWeb Team Up In Mobile Search
- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-alibaba-group-ucweb-idUSKBN0EM04P20140611 Alibaba to buy out UCWeb in China's biggest internet merger
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/jlim/2014/06/11/alibaba-fully-buys-out-ucweb-in-chinas-biggest-internet-deal-ever/ Alibaba Fully Buys Out UCWeb in China's Biggest Internet Deal Ever
- https://online.wsj.com/articles/alibaba-buys-remaining-stake-in-ucweb-1402456416 Alibaba Buys Remaining Stake in UCWeb
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-11/alibaba-to-acquire-rest-of-ucweb-to-boost-its-mobile-offerings.html Alibaba to Acquire Rest of UCWeb to Boost Mobile Offering
- http://www.pcworld.com/article/2362820/ucweb-to-accelerate-international-expansion-after-alibaba-merger.html UCWeb to accelerate international expansion after Alibaba merger
- https://www.reuters.com/article/alibaba-ucweb-security-idUSL3N0YC3Q620150521 Research group says UC Browser, owned by Alibaba, found to leak data
- http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/spy-agencies-target-mobile-phones-app-stores-to-implant-spyware-1.3076546 Spy agencies target mobile phones, app stores to implant spyware
