Rumor: AliCloud to Add Video Chat to Mobile IM App
Sohu IT, 9/20/11
An industry source revealed recently that Alibaba Cloud Computing ("AliCloud"), the cloud technology subsidiary of Hangzhou-based e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba Group, was preparing to launch a video-enabled version of its "Yun Liao" ("Cloud Chat") service. Cloud Chat is one of the basic features of the Aliyun OS mobile operating system, which the company launched July 28.
An AliCloud employee confirmed that the company is currently developing a new version of Cloud Chat that will support free video calls between video-enabled Aliyun phones in Wi-Fi network environments, similar to Apple's FaceTime. The application will also support text chat, images, emoticons, and other standard IM functions.
The employee said that the new version of Cloud Chat is being tested and will be released along with a system update for Aliyun OS. AliCloud is also working on other localized services, including enabling mobile phones to be used as payment tools.
In a previous interview, AliCloud president Wang Jian said that more than 10,000 Aliyun phones had been sold since the product's late July launch.
Keywords: mobile application sales volume Wang Jian e-commerce wireless mobile IM AliCloud mobile OS handset video calling Alibaba Group enterprise-branded handset Aliyun OS