
Mobile Entertainment, Inc¡¯s mobile game is currently
distributed through a mobile Internet store known
as ¡°QQ Shop¡±. This shop offers the game players an
opportunity to upgrade their role-playing characters
in the mobile game ¡°Journey to the West¡± by accessing
a variety of in-game gadgets, including helmets, swords
or even a magic spell to defeat villains, just one
click through a hyperlink in the game interface.
¡°Journey to the West¡± gamers are allowed to purchase
in-game gadgets from QQ Shop. Empowered by a virtual
cash payment system or ¡°Q-coins¡±, the gamers can use
RMB in the real world to purchase Q-coins prepaid
cards; and settlement of their purchase of virtual
booty will be accomplished through Q-coins by the
virtual cash and payment system. ¡°Q-coins¡± is an official
intermediary for transactions between real-life players
for in-game items and characters. Q-coins prepaid
cards are available in almost any Chinese grocery
store throughout the country.
The backbone of QQ shop and Q coins originated from
Tencent (HKSE: 700), one of the strongest distribution
partners of Mobile Entertainment, Inc.
Founded in November, 1998, Tencent, Inc. has grown
into China's largest and most popular Internet service
portal. Their strategic mission is to provide Chinese
Internet users with a "one-stop online life service".
Tencent's instant messaging platform, known as ¡°QQ¡±,
has a profound influence on the way tens of millions
of Chinese Internet users. As of June 20th, 2007,
the number of registered QQ Instant Messenger users
has exceeded 647.1 million. Active users numbered
at more than 57 million. QQ Games counted more than
3.17 million users simultaneously on-line. QQ.com
has become China's most visited Internet portal website.