UCWeb Announces Acquisition of iOS App Distributor Teiron Network

UCWeb, the leading Chinese mobile browser and mobile service provider, confirms today the acquisition of Guangzhou Teiron Network Technology Co. Ltd, the developer of  mobile device management suite and iOS app distributor PP Assistant. The transaction is expected to be closed soon. The acquisition price isn’t disclosed.

PP Assistant is one of the biggest iOS app distributors in China that is complementary to UCWeb who hasn’t established a meaningful presence on iOS platform. PP Assistant has 40 million users on iOS, with 8 million daily app downloads. It has just overtaken 91 Wireless, the mobile app distributor on both iOS and Android Baidu acquired earlier this year for $1.85 billion, as China’s largest third party mobile app marketplace on iOS in terms of weekly active users, UCWeb says citing iResearch tracking results. It is estimated that PP Assistant will make RMB 500 million (approx. USD 75 million) in 2013 with a large chunk from third-party mobile games it operates on its platform.

PP Assistant mobile device manager is available on iOS, Android, Windows and MacOS.

“UCWeb has solidified its leadership position in China’s mobile app distribution sector and mobile gaming with this acquisition,” said Yongfu Yu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of UCWeb. “Android constitutes much of our 400 million global user base and it makes us a top mobile app marketplace and mobile games operator. With the addition of Teiron Network’s strength in the iOS market, we are now stronger and more balanced with a solid No.2 position in mobile gaming market in China. With broad and consistent reach on two largest mobile operation systems, we’re poised for growth faster than ever.”

image credit: PPAssistant