Alibaba Announces Free Mobile Data for Alibaba Apps
36Kr, 10/30/13
Chinese e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba Group today launched a free mobile data plan for users of the company's mobile apps. In addition to the company's recently released mobile instant messaging app Laiwang, Alibaba will pay for user data fees generated by all of Alibaba's app products from November 1 to December 31, including Mobile Taobao, Alipay, TMall, Juhuasuan, AliWangxin, Tao Diandian, and Etao.
At present, the free data plan covers China Mobile (NYSE: CHL; 0941.HK) users in Guangdong Province and China Unicom (NYSE: CHU; 0762.HK; 600050.SH) users in the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Hunan. To receive the free data package, users must sign up for the Taobao mobile client and submit their mobile telephone numbers. The plan is limited to one per individual handset, phone number, or Taobao ID. Each user receives up to 2 GB/month of free data.
Alibaba has disclosed that the company is currently in talks with telecom operators to expand the plan to more regions. The company plans to extend the time limit of the plan based on user experience and operator support.
According to recent reports, Zhejiang Yi Xin Technology, the China Telecom-Netease joint venture operator of mobile IM YiChat ("Yixin"), is actively engaged in talks with China's three major telecom operators involving the implementation of a free data usage plan for the app.
Editor's Note: For more background on this topic, please see "Rumor: Alibaba to Pay User Data Fees for Mobile Taobao, Laiwang" MD 10/28/13 issue.
Keywords: mobile data wireless Alibaba Group Laiwang tariffs
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