China’s UC Browser broadens its horizons with deal to buy iOS app marketplace PP Assistant

UCWeb, which owns popular Chinese-made mobile browser UC Browser, has acquired Guangzhou Teiron Network Technology — the developer of third-party iOS mobile app marketplace PP Assistant — as it seeks to further its position in the iOS app market.

With more than 10 percent market share in 10 nations, UCWeb CEO Yu Yongfu said previously that the company is ready to make the jump from a mobile browser to a platform that supports its own app ecosystem. With its latest acquisition, Yu says:

Android constitutes much of our 400 million global user base and it makes us a top mobile app marketplace and mobile games operator. With the addition of Teiron Network’s strength in the iOS market, we are now stronger and more balanced with a solid No.2 position in mobile gaming market in China. With broad and consistent reach on two largest mobile operation systems, we’re poised for growth faster than ever.

PP Assistant is also one of China’s top mobile game operators for iOS devices.