mInfo Inc. Is First in China to Deliver Mobile Search Via Instant Messaging
China’s Mobile Search Leader Makes Its Services Available for Free to IM Users on Handheld Devices and PCs
SHANGHAI, China, Sept. 18 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ — mInfo(R) Inc. (minfo.com), a leading Chinese mobile search service provider, is now making its free services even more accessible by releasing a new Instant Message (IM) search service that can be used on either cell phones or PCs. mInfo was the only mobile search provider in China offering both SMS and WAP search services, but now extends that lead by adding IM as a new Interactive Search option.
To utilize mInfo’s new IM search capability, users in China just need to add XiaoMing(TM) (mbot@minfo.com), mInfo’s search robot, to their IM buddy list on either their phones or PCs. Then whenever they have a question that needs answering, they just click to start a conversation with XiaoMing. This is all made possible with mInfo’s patent-pending natural language search technology, allowing users to search for answers just by asking a question, the same way they would other friends on their IM buddy list. There’s no software to download or install, and the answers arrive almost instantly. mInfo’s Interactive Search model is very different from the traditional internet search model of Google and Baidu where users type in keywords and get back numerous unrelated links.
”With over 7 million mobile IM users and about 120 million desktop IM users in China right now, XiaoMing will give a large number of people a new way to find information quickly and accurately, without the need to open up a browser,” said Alvin Wang Graylin, CEO. ”mInfo was the first to deliver natural language mobile search on SMS and WAP, and is now again the first to deliver mobile search to Chinese users via instant messaging. Technology innovation is a core value in our corporate culture and we look forward to continue setting the standard for mobile search in China.”
mInfo currently delivers a wide range of mobile search services nationwide on both China Mobile and China Unicom. Its local-search services already covers ten major cities allowing users to get instant information on local merchants, restaurants, hotels, recreation areas, discounts, ATMs, government offices, etc. mInfo also offers numerous informational search services that are available nationwide covering dozens of content categories including price comparison, ring-tone search, photo search, sports scores, weather, flight/train schedules, jokes, horoscopes, and English learning. Users just need to remember one place to go for all life-related information needs. The best part is all of mInfo’s services are free to end-users, and more new offerings are being released monthly.
To try the other mInfo search services, WAP users can visit wap.minfo.com and SMS users just need to send their questions to ”118855” (China Mobile) or to ”9minfo” [964636] (China Unicom). Users don’t need to know any special commands or syntax, and answers are usually received in less than 20 seconds. Searchers in China can finally enjoy free access to instant information with or without a PC.
About mInfo Inc.
mInfo Inc. is the leading provider of natural language mobile search and wireless information services to China’s 440 million wireless subscribers. mInfo provides over 30 categories of search content, and its services are available nationwide via SMS, WAP and IM. It also provides various mobile marketing tools/services to both large branded advertisers and thousands of SMEs in the China market. mInfo’s free mobile search services are based on numerous patent-pending technologies making its services truly intuitive to use and its search results highly relevant. mInfo is headquartered in Shanghai, China, and has offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Chengdu. For more information, please visit http://www.minfo.com/ .
mInfo Inc.
CONTACT: Yu Shi of mInfo Inc., +86-21-6439-2200, or yshi@minfo.com
Web Site: http://www.minfo.com/