China Unicom Taps mInfo for Intelligent Mobile Search Service
mInfo, 7/31/12
China Unicom (NYSE: CHU; 0762.HK; 600050.SH) has selected Shanghai-based mobile search solutions provider mInfo to power Unicom's automated information search service, SMS 114. The solution, already available to Unicom subscribers in Liaoning Province, is expected to deploy to the rest of the country later this year. mInfo also has existing partnerships with China Telecom (NYSE: CHA; 0728.HK) and China Mobile (NYSE: CHL; 0941.HK) on other mobile search solutions.
While China's mobile operators have long provided voice-based operator assistance and information look up services, the new service allows users to send a simple SMS request to the service number "114" instead of calling to get instant access to standard phone number/address look up services, as well as a variety of life style related information.
SMS 114 is a free service Unicom provides to its mobile subscribers allowing them to get detailed informational searches without using a smart phone or mobile internet connection. The service supports a natural language query that can be accessed at any time via SMS. The SMS 114 search channel's functions include: jokes, weather forecasts, business directories, greetings, horoscopes, knowledge base, stocks, lottery tickets, and train and flight information.
The new cooperation follows a string of other partnerships between mInfo and China's mobile operators. In 2008, The Beijing Organizing Committee of the Beijing Olympic Games and China Mobile selected mInfo as the official mobile search service provider. In 2009, China Mobile officially chose mInfo as its official search partner for the 139 Mobile portal. In 2010, mInfo and China Telecom developed the "Omni-search" service which is expected to receive 300 mln searches this year.
Keywords: China Unicom wireless mInfo mobile search SMS 0762.HK 600050.SH CHU
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