Rumor: Kingsoft Restructures iCiba Business
Tencent Tech, 7/15/10
Chinese application software developer Kingsoft (3888.HK) has reportedly moved the 80-person development team for its iCiba English-learning service out of Kingsoft headquarters, according to a source within the company. The source said the move is due to the rapid of expansion of Kingsoft's gaming workforce, leading to a lack of office space.
One employee who quit said that iCiba will have a significantly different direction and operations once restructuring is complete, and will no longer be a simple tool. The iCiba interface, which currently resembles Taobao, will be redesigned. The same source said that iCiba's dictionary and translation functionality has been significantly weakened following the end of its partnership with Google.
The source also pointed out that iCiba remains unable to find a suitable profit model, while the general manager has been replaced frequently over the past few years. Current thinking within Kingsoft is to sell the business to a third party through private investment.
Keywords: corporate restructuring Kingsoft dictionary Internet iCiba 3888.HK
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