Sparkice, Beijing's first and most prominent Internet cafe operator, officially closed its last Net bar on Wednesday, partly because of government regulations and partly to focus entirely on e-commerce - which it expects to bring a profit.
The Sparkice closure, which technically began when all Beijing cybercafes were ordered closed after a fire killed 24 people in an illegal cafe on June 16, affects a clientele of mostly foreign travellers and business people.
About 200 customers would visit the cybercafe at central Beijing's China World Trade Centre each day, and 70 per cent were foreigners.
Because only 10 to 20 people a day had inquired about using its services since the cafe closed in June, Sparkice decided to tell the media yesterday that the operation was dead.
'Like a boy who has a dog for five years, and you kill the dog yourself, it hurts,' said Edward Zeng, Sparkice founder, chairman, chief executive and 40 per cent shareholder. 'I feel the same way.'
Mr Zeng said China's first online payment had been processed at a Sparkice cafe.
Sparkice had received government approval to reopen since the fire, Mr Zeng said, but the company no longer wanted to battle regulations. 'This is very ridiculous,' he said. 'If the government shuts you down, you can't be profitable.'