UC Browser becomes world's 2nd most popular mobile browser: Study

KOLKATA: UC Browser, the flagship mobile browser of UCWeb, an Alibaba Group company, has become the second-most popular mobile browser in the world with a 17.42% market share, according to StatCounter, an independent web traffic analytics service.

The recent achievement coincides with the browser’s consistent rise in its overseas markets, as according to StatCounter data, it clocked more than half of the mobile browsing market share (54.42%) in India and 49.05% in Indonesia last month.

India and Indonesia have become the new frontiers for mobile Internet, driven mostly by rapid growth of their connected population. The popularity of UC Browser attributes to its fast speed and easy access to local content and services, as well as the powerful distribution network UC Union, a global mobile traffic and monetisation platform.

Mr. Yu Yongfu, President of Alibaba Mobile Business Group, of which UCWeb is a part, said that in addition to the company’s leading position in China, overseas growth had contributed significantly to UC Browser’s rise as the world’s No.2 mobile browser.

“By providing a one-stop mobile browsing gateway, UC Browser makes mobile services conveniently accessible, helping improve and reshape the mobile lifestyle of our users worldwide. We will continue to reach new users through unique localisation and personalisation efforts,” Yongfu said in a media statement Wednesday.

Deep localisation and strong synergistic partnerships with local content providers has boosted downloads and engagement with the browser.

Last December, UC Browser surpassed 100 million daily active users (DAUs), propelling it into the top group of apps that includes Facebook, Twitter, YouTube amongst others.