13% Q1 user growth in China for TOM-Skype joint venture
"At the end of March 2007, we had over 35.5 mn registered TOM-Skype users up from over 31.5 mn at the end of January 2007."
— "TOM Online Reports 1Q 2007 Results" news release.
Not exactly viral, may not even replace users who try Skype and leave.
Why?
4. Great Firewall of China still blocking Skype Journal? (Yes. This is obviously of great distress to the entire Chinese economy.)
3. Competition from Tencent's massively popular QQ?
Total registered Instant Messaging ("IM") user accounts increased to 580.5 million, representing a 1.4% growth QoQ
Peak simultaneous online user accounts for IM services recorded over 24.5 million, a growth of 10.9% QoQ
Active IM user accounts increased 5.1% QoQ to 232.6 million
— Tencent Q4 2006 Quarterly Results
2. Chinese bypassing text-filters built into the TOM-Skype version by downloading from Skype.com instead of Skype.Tom.com?
