UCWeb
{{short description|Chinese mobile Internet company}}
{{advert|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox company
|name = UCWeb Inc
|logo = Uc web.png
|logo_size = 250px
|industry = Internet
|foundation = {{Start date and age|2004}}
|founder = He Xiaopeng
Liang Jie
|key_people = Yu Yongfu (President)
|location_city = Guangzhou, Guangdong
|location_country = China
|area_served = Worldwide
|products = mobile web browser,
mobile search engine, etc.
|parent = Alibaba Group{{cite web |url=http://www.alibabagroup.com/en/news/article?news=p140611 |title=Alibaba Group Completes Full Acquisition and Integration of UCWeb |date=2014-06-11 |publisher=Alibaba Group}}
|homepage = [http://www.ucweb.com www.ucweb.com]
}}
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.[https://archive.today/20140711181410/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=46476173 company profile], BusinessWeek[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] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108113709/https://pando.com/2013/08/21/ucweb-becomes-first-chinese-internet-company-to-hit-no-1-in-india-adds-jack-ma-to-board/ |date=2019-11-08 }}, PandoDaily, Aug 21, 2013
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.[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-16/alibaba-backed-ucweb-scouts-for-mobile-acquisitions.html Alibaba-Backed UCWeb Scouts for Mobile Acquisitions], Bloomberg, Jan 16, 2014[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], PocketGamer, Jun 12, 2014 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.[http://report.iresearch.cn/2107.html 2013年中国手机浏览器行业分析报告], iResearch, Feb 14, 2014 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.[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], TheNextWeb, Mar 21, 2014
In April 2014, UCWeb and Alibaba Group jointly announced the formation of a JV named Shenma Inc. ({{zh|c=神马搜索|p=Shénmǎ Sōusuǒ}}) that offers a mobile-only search engine in China.[http://www.marketwatch.com/story/alibaba-ucweb-plan-mobile-search-joint-venture-2014-04-28 Alibaba, UCWeb plan mobile-search joint venture], MarketWatch, Apr 28, 2014[https://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2014/04/28/alibaba-ucweb-team-up-in-mobile-search/ Alibaba, UCWeb Team Up In Mobile Search], Forbes magazine, Apr 28. 2014
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.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-alibaba-group-ucweb-idUSKBN0EM04P20140611 Alibaba to buy out UCWeb in China's biggest internet merger], Reuters, June 11, 2014[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], Forbes magazine, June 11, 2014 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.[https://online.wsj.com/articles/alibaba-buys-remaining-stake-in-ucweb-1402456416 Alibaba Buys Remaining Stake in UCWeb], Wall Street Journal, June 11, 2014[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], Bloomberg, June 11, 2014[http://www.pcworld.com/article/2362820/ucweb-to-accelerate-international-expansion-after-alibaba-merger.html UCWeb to accelerate international expansion after Alibaba merger], PCWorld, June 12, 2014
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.[https://www.reuters.com/article/alibaba-ucweb-security-idUSL3N0YC3Q620150521 Research group says UC Browser, owned by Alibaba, found to leak data] - Reuters, 21 May 2015[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] - CBC, 22 May 2015
References
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{{Alibaba Group}}
Category:Alibaba Group acquisitions
Category:Internet search engines
Category:Software companies of China
Category:Companies based in Beijing
Category:Companies based in Guangzhou
Category:Chinese companies established in 2004
Category:Internet technology companies of China