Everyone is looking at the mobile internet market right now. Not only VC, but angel investors and incubators also focus on it; the content providers/operators such as 91 wants it; Now the game company expects some share too. The9, the famous online game operator and developer in China announced its so called ‘Fund9’ investment fund with a total size of $100million, together with Chengwei Ventures, ChinaRock Capital Management and China Renaissance K2 Ventures.
The9, the ex-operator of Blizzard in China, its business primarily focus on developing and operating high-quality games for online game market. The9 directly, or through affiliates, operates licensed MMORPGs and advanced casual games including Soul of The Ultimate Nation, EA SPORTS FIFA Online 2, Atlantica and Kingdom Heroes 2 Online etc. The announcement of this fund is a clear sign of The9’s huge interest on mobile game development, as Zhu Jun, ceo of The9 says in the press release:
Mobile internet application and platform has become a significant part of the mobile and internet industry with a rapidly growing number of smart phone users, especially in China. We noticed that there are many talented and creative domestic development teams in need of support during their development. If they receive financial and other support such as marketing, operation and administration, their chance of success will be much higher. I believe Fund9 has a unique opportunity to provide such support to these talented developers who will be able to launch more advanced mobile applications that will ultimately benefit all mobile internet users.
And the fund is open to the international developers if they want to bring their mobile application or games to China. “We will also target talented overseas mobile internet application and platform developers with the ultimate goal of bringing the best products to China.” Zhu said.
This is a positive thing for the customer that he can also enjoy technology at very affordable price. In other words, we can say that China cheap mobile remove the distance between rich and poor.