Chinese Twitter-like service passes 100 million users

02.03.2011
One of the biggest Twitter-like microblogs in China continues to see its popularity grow, with the number of registered users accounts surpassing the 100 million mark, according to site operator, Sina.

The service, which was launched in August 2009, has risen to the forefront of China's microblogging market. Official estimates say the percentage of Chinese Internet users who use microblogging services is at 13.8 percent, but the number is only expected to grow. There are 457 million Internet users in China, according to official statistics.

"We have successfully built into the largest and most influential social media platform in China," said Sina CEO Charles Chao in a statement on Wednesday.

Sina's online portal is the fourth most visited site in China and offers links to news and media. But this year, Sina plans on leveraging the popularity of its microblogging service by making it a centerpiece of the company's new growth strategy.

Sina will start experimenting with ways it can from the microblogging service likely in the second half of this year, Chao said during a quarterly earnings conference call on Wednesday. But he added, "We are not going to make monetization a priority this year."

Sina also said it will release a new version of its microblog in the second quarter of this year.