Tencent’s China Literature ends Kindle-like e-reader service as Big Tech firms pull back on unprofitable businesses
- Online services for China Literature’s e-book reader Koudaiyue will cease late next month, the Tencent-backed company said on Monday
- Chinese technology giants have ended a string of service offerings this year, as they grapple with regulatory uncertainties and a worsening economy
Chinese technology giant Tencent Holdings’ online literature arm said on Monday it would pull the plug on its e-reader service, in the latest sign of China Big Tech’s retreat from noncore businesses.
China Literature said it would end online services for its e-book reader Koudaiyue, which translates as “pocket reading”, by October 26, after which users will no longer be able to purchase new books through their devices. Titles that had already been downloaded will remain readable.
In 2019, the Tencent spin-off launched its e-reader, which featured a 5.2-inch e-ink screen and doubled as a cellphone. At the time, it joined a crowded market largely dominated by Amazon’s Kindle.
However, the proliferation of smartphones, compounded by the rising popularity of short-video apps, has limited the growth potential of specialist electronic reading devices. Tencent itself already operates a stand-alone app, WeRead, which provides subscribers with unlimited access to all titles on its platform for 19 yuan (US$2.7) a month.
Koudaiyue’s official store on e-commerce site JD.com shows that most of its flagship products are out of stock. China Literature said any unused credit on Koudaiyue would be transferred to the company’s two other online reading platforms, QQ Reading and Qidian.
Tencent and other Chinese technology giants have ended a string of service offerings this year, as they grapple with regulatory uncertainties, a worsening economy and sliding consumer confidence.
The Shenzhen-based social media and video gaming giant, once known for “owning half of the mountains and rivers” in China’s internet sector because of its extensive investment portfolio, has shut nearly 30 mobile games so far, according to data from app analytics service Qimai.
