The creators of UC Browser announce UCNews, a big data-based news aggregation app

UCWeb, the creators of the very popular UC Browser have just released a new app designed specifically for the Indian market. Dubbed UCNews, the app is a news aggregator that will curate news content for you based on “big data.” The company claims that they command 58 percent of the mobile browser space in India, comprising over 80 million users. Of these users, UCWeb claims that around 73 percent of them rely on the browser for news aggregation services. UCNews, they say, is designed specifically to cater to users like them.  

The change in strategy from tool to content has arised out of consumption habits of users. @UCBrowserIndia pic.twitter.com/M3ONDMUxwQ

— Tech2 (@tech2eets) June 6, 2016

The app will take advantage of “big data” by analysing trends on social media (Facebook and Twitter) and curating relevant news for the user. Users will be able to customize their interests and sources for a more personalized news feed. Of course, the app will make use of UC Browser’s data compression services to provide this news while lowering data consumption. UCWeb will partner with “self-publishers and key opinion leaders” to source content. Kenny Ye, General Manager of UCWeb, Alibaba Mobile Business Group is quoted as saying, “Digital consumption is on the rise and the challenge is how we can customize, curate and present diverse content to users. Content providers face difficulties in distributing content of different formats, while consumers are swamped by an information overload. Our answer to these challenges is to position ourselves as a content aggregator. The newly launched UC News and upgraded UC Browser for India are two complementary products embedded with the aim of content aggregation.” News feeds will cover a whole range of topics, allowing for greater customisation. Support for multiple languages will also arrive shortly, claim UCWeb.