Tencent and mInfo Partner to Deliver Intuitive IM Search to QQ Users in China and Abroad

SHANGHAI, Dec. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Tencent has selected mInfo Inc. (www.minfo.com) as search and content partner for its QQi IM client. Tencent's QQi client (www.imqq.com) has incorporate mInfo's search and mobile city guide service "Guanxi" (www.mguanxi.com) into its official new release. The QQi client has integrated the Guanxi mini-app as well as the intelligent Guanxi IM robot (QQ:749792929 or [email protected]). The Guanxi robot allows users to search for “Life” oriented information directly by instant messaging the robot like a normal friend. QQ has been a clear leader in instant messaging and social networking in China, and mInfo's Guanxi service is the leading mobile search provider to expatriates in China. The cooperation between these two firms is natural given that the target audience for Tencent's QQi client is expatriates in China and Chinese foreign nationals looking to communicate with Chinese users.

Guanxi search will be built into the QQ international client. Users can access the search page directly from the client or add the Guanxi IM robot as an IM friend for doing real-time searches on venues, traffic, coupons, translation, weather forecast, etc. by entering queries in English, Mandarin or pinyin as if they were messaging with a friend. The service is free and the IM robot is accessible via any online or mobile QQ client.

As China's leading IM provider, QQ had released the beta o of its international version in October 2009 but now has just formally released the product. QQi has over 2 million users to date. Guanxi, developed by mInfo, is the only English Mobile City Guide focused on supporting expatriates in China and has been serving its users since 2002. Guanxi is available via SMS (106695882929) and IM on China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom, and via an easy-to-use downloadable mobile app. Hundreds of thousands of expats in China depend on Guanxi service in over 20 cities in China. Guanxi had been a paid service in the past, but has recently moved to a free ad-based service in September.

Claire Jin, Tencent's QQi project lead, said: "We are very happy to be working with mInfo for the life search service. They have been a recognized leader in their space and we're looking forward to extending our offering to QQi users with their support."

About Tencent:

Founded in November, 1998, Tencent has grown into one of China's largest and most used Internet service portal. It is Tencent's mission to enhance the quality of human life through Internet services. Presently, Tencent is providing value-added Internet, mobile and telecom services and online advertising under the strategic goal of providing users with "one-stop online lifestyle services". Tencent's leading Internet platforms in China – QQ (QQ Instant Messenger), QQ.com, QQ Games, Qzone, 3g.QQ.com, SoSo, PaiPai and Tenpay – have brought together China's largest Internet community, to meet the various needs of Internet users including communication, information, entertainment, e-commerce and others. As of March 31, 2010, the active QQ users accounts for QQ IM amounted to 568.6 million while its peak concurrent users reached 105.3 million. The development of Tencent has profoundly influenced the ways hundreds of millions of Internet users communicate with one another as well as their lifestyles. It also brings possibilities of a wider range of applications to the China's Internet industry.

About mInfo® Inc.

mInfo Inc. is a leading provider of mobile search services to China's 800+ million wireless subscribers and the leading provider of mobile pull-advertising solutions for branded and SME advertisers throughout China. mInfo operates both the mInfo and Guanxi brands of search services. mInfo delivers advanced mobile search solutions on all three major carriers in China via SMS(1066958866 [CN content], 106695882929[EN content]), WAP(wap.minfo.com), Instant Messenger, and embedded clients. mInfo's mobile search services are based on patent-pending natural language and personalization technologies, making its services truly intuitive to use and its search results highly relevant. mInfo was founded in early 2005 and headquartered in Shanghai, with offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Seattle. For more information, please visit: www.minfo.com. mInfo was selected by China Telecom and China Mobile to be their strategic partner on several key search projects. mInfo was also selected by the BOCOG to be the official mobile search platform for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

SOURCE mInfo Inc.

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