SubscribeChina Mobile Has Its Own Mobile IM
China Mobile recently released its own mobile IM software called Femoo(飞信) (the name changed to , and will stop supporting all existing mobile IM service.
After registering a Femoo user, you can send SMS, instant messages and make voice chatting with other users on mobile handsets or on PC, but it is NOT free, chatting charges from 0.15 yuan per minute to 0.25 yuan per minute in busy time). If you pay for a 5-Yuan monthly subscription fee, you can also use Femoo’s dating service to search users and make friends.
In order to promote its Femoo, China Mobile has announced to stop approving any new mobile chatting service since June 1st, and will not provide marketing cooperation for existing mobile IM services after the termination of current contracts by the end of 2006.
Obviously, the new policy will affect Tencent, since it generate a large part of revenue from its leading IM software QQ by cooperating with China Mobile. Maybe it still can share revenue with China Mobile by providing support to Femoo.
Do we need another mobile IM service other than QQ and MSN? I think most users’ answer would be no. I think Femoo may not develop into a successful product, because it is difficult for Femoo to reach the critical mass successfully to have network effects. QQ will still dominate this market in foreseeable future.
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