Alibaba’s UCWeb pushes user rewards strategy
NEW DELHI: The Alibaba Group’s mobile business unit, UCWeb, hopes to overtake internet giants Google and Facebook in terms of content aggregation by offering monetary benefits to users for contributing self-created content on its platform.
“User aspect plays a key role in the company and the entire ecosystem. Our user base is close to Google and Facebook in Asia and is growing at a fast pace,” Jack Huang, Alibaba mobile business president, overseas, told ET.
UCWeb recently launched a digital content program allowing users to earn money and providing a bonus of Rs 300 for contributing self-created content. A similar self-publishing platform, Blogger, is being offered by Google.
The Jack Ma-founded online marketplace major acquired internet browser and search services firm UCWeb in June 2014 and believes end consumers are core to its overall strategy to bridge the gap with its Silicon Valley rivals. Huang said no available business model allows users to make money.
The Guangzhou-headquartered internet firm feels a recommendation-driven approach is booming in China — beyond the subscription and search models. The trend is expected to spread across Asia, with its consumer-centric strategy boosting user.
The Chinese internet player currently has more than 100 million active monthly users, while Facebook has little over 160 million active monthly users in India.
India has 371million smartphone consumers, with a minuscule contribution from self-publishers, while China, with more than 600 million smartphone users, has as many as 20 million online content creators.
Alibaba’s Internet arm believes that the content ecosystem is bigger in India as compared to other nations, and according to Huang, the company has some ‘bigger plans’ for the country, after an initial investment pledge of Rs 120 crore.
“Everything, including startup segment, is like an open window for us and we have confidence in the Indian market,” the company’s top executive added.
However, the Chinese major feels that last-mile broadband access is a huge challenge in India, although the company’s focus would remain on efficient content delivery and web platform.
“User aspect plays a key role in the company and the entire ecosystem. Our user base is close to Google and Facebook in Asia and is growing at a fast pace,” Jack Huang, Alibaba mobile business president, overseas, told ET.
UCWeb recently launched a digital content program allowing users to earn money and providing a bonus of Rs 300 for contributing self-created content. A similar self-publishing platform, Blogger, is being offered by Google.
The Jack Ma-founded online marketplace major acquired internet browser and search services firm UCWeb in June 2014 and believes end consumers are core to its overall strategy to bridge the gap with its Silicon Valley rivals. Huang said no available business model allows users to make money.
The Guangzhou-headquartered internet firm feels a recommendation-driven approach is booming in China — beyond the subscription and search models. The trend is expected to spread across Asia, with its consumer-centric strategy boosting user.
The Chinese internet player currently has more than 100 million active monthly users, while Facebook has little over 160 million active monthly users in India.
India has 371million smartphone consumers, with a minuscule contribution from self-publishers, while China, with more than 600 million smartphone users, has as many as 20 million online content creators.
Alibaba’s Internet arm believes that the content ecosystem is bigger in India as compared to other nations, and according to Huang, the company has some ‘bigger plans’ for the country, after an initial investment pledge of Rs 120 crore.
“Everything, including startup segment, is like an open window for us and we have confidence in the Indian market,” the company’s top executive added.
However, the Chinese major feels that last-mile broadband access is a huge challenge in India, although the company’s focus would remain on efficient content delivery and web platform.
