Rumor: Qihoo 360 to Abandon Apple App Store
Global Times, 2/25/13
One month after Apple removed apps from Chinese Internet services and security software provider Qihoo 360 (NYSE: QIHU) from the iTunes App Store, the Qihoo 360 apps have still not been reinstated. According to recent industry rumor, Qihoo 360 is considering abandoning the iTunes App Store altogether.
A source close to Qihoo 360's marketing channels division said that the company had dispatched Li Tao, the vice president in charge of channels, to visit Apple headquarters after the de-listing, but Li was not granted an audience at Apple HQ. Qihoo 360 chairman Zhou Hongyi has reportedly decided to abandon the iOS market. The bulk of Qihoo 360's users are in the Android market at present.
On January 25, seven apps from Qihoo 360 were removed from Apple's iTunes App Store. According to a statement from Qihoo 360, the apps were removed because the Enterprise edition of the company's 360 Mobile Safe app made unauthorized use of private iOS APIs, in violation of App Store rules.
Editor's Note: For more background on this topic, please see "Qihoo 360 Responds to Removal from Apple App Store" MD 2/05/13 issue and "Qihoo 360 Mobile Apps Removed from Apple iTunes Store" MD 1/26/13 issue.
Keywords: Zhou Hongyi wireless app store Apple Qihoo 360 Li Tao QIHU mobile application
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