BEIJING, Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
SINA Corporation ("Sina") (Nasdaq: SINA),
a leading online media company serving China and the global Chinese communities, and
AutoNavi Holdings Limited ("AutoNavi") (Nasdaq: AMAP),
a leading provider of digital map content and navigation and
location-based solutions in China,
today jointly announced a strategic partnership to integrate and
enhance each other's social, location and mobile ("SoLoMo")
offerings.
As a result of this partnership, AMAP, AutoNavi's mobile
map application, users will be able to sign on using Weibo Connect
and access content directly from SINA Weibo. SINA Weibo users will
also have access to the content and functionality of AMAP. The
companies expect such content and product integration will enhance
the social networking and navigational aspects of each other's
mobile offerings.
"Over 70% of SINA Weibo users access the social media
platform at least partially via mobile devices," said Gaofei Wang,
Vice President and General Manager of SINA Mobile. "LBS (location
based services) and mapping services will play a key role in
Weibo's mobile strategy, and we are excited to be partnering with
AutoNavi to leverage their expertise in these areas."
"In teaming up with Sina, we are proud to
provide our mapping and location-based services to over 400 million
Sina Weibo users, while at the same time integrating Sina Weibo's
social content and SNS features into AMAP," said Mr. Congwu Cheng,
chief executive officer of AutoNavi. "We believe our collaboration
with Sina Weibo will benefit both of our users and we look forward
to future cooperation between our two companies as we continue to
bring new features and functionalities to our users."
About SINA
We are an online media company serving China and the global Chinese communities. Our
digital media network of SINA.com (portal), SINA.cn (mobile portal)
and Weibo.com (social media) enable Internet users to access
professional media and user generated content in multi-media
formats from the web and mobile devices and share their interests
to friends and acquaintances.
SINA.com offers distinct and targeted professional content
on each of its region specific websites and a range of
complementary offerings. SINA.cn provides information and
entertainment content from SINA portal customized for WAP users.
Based on an open-platform architecture to host organically
developed and third-party applications, Weibo.com is a form of
social media, featuring microblogging services and social
networking services that allow users to connect and share
information anywhere, anytime and with anyone on our
platform.
Through these businesses and properties and other business
lines, we offer an array of services including mobile value added
services ("MVAS"), online video, music streaming, online games,
photo sharing, blog, email, classified listings, fee-based
services, e-commerce and enterprise services. We generate the
majority of our revenues from online brand advertising, MVAS and
fee-based services.]
About AutoNavi
AutoNavi Holdings Limited (Nasdaq:AMAP) is a leading
provider of digital map content and navigation and location-based
solutions in China. At the core of
its business is a comprehensive nationwide digital map database
that covers approximately 3.6 million kilometers of roadway and
over 20 million points of interest across China. Through its digital map database and
proprietary technology platform, AutoNavi provides comprehensive,
integrated navigation and location-based solutions optimized for
the Chinese market and users, including automotive navigation
solutions, mobile location-based solutions and Internet
location-based solutions, and public sector and enterprise
applications. For more information on AutoNavi, please visit
http://www.autonavi.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements
made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking
statements can be identified by terminology such as "will,"
"expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes,"
"estimates," "confident" and similar statements. SINA and AutoNavi
may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in their
respective reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, in their respective annual report to
shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in
oral statements made by their respective officers, directors or
employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical
facts, including statements about the companies' beliefs and
expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in any forward-looking statement. These factors include
the risk factors detailed in the companies' respective annual
report on Form 20-F as well as in their other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in
this press release is current as of the date of the press release,
and neither SINA nor AutoNavi undertakes any duty to update such
information, except as required under applicable law.
For investor and media inquiries please
contact:
SINA
Investor Relations
SINA
Corporation
Phone: +86-10-8262-8888 x
3112
Email: ir@staff.sina.com.cn
AutoNavi
In China:
Serena
Shi
AutoNavi Holdings
Limited
Tel:
+86-10-8410-7883
E-mail:
serena.shi@autonavi.com
Derek
Mitchell
Ogilvy Financial, Beijing
Tel:
+86-10-8520-3073
E-mail: amap@ogilvy.com
In the U.S.:
Jessica Barist
Cohen
Ogilvy Financial, New York
Tel:
+1-646-460-9989
E-mail: amap@ogilvy.com
SOURCE SINA Corporation