Guo Ji Jin Rong Bao·2025-09-03 12:56Core Viewpoint - The era of application distribution is coming to an end, as evidenced by the announcement of the complete shutdown of 91 Assistant's services by September 27, 2025, due to business adjustments and product iterations [2][6]. Company Development - 91 Assistant was developed in response to the launch of the first iPhone in 2007, initially as "iPhone PC Suite," which gained significant popularity and user base [3]. - The official launch of 91 Assistant 1.0 occurred in February 2008, becoming essential for iOS users needing to "jailbreak" their devices to download third-party applications [3][4]. - By 2009, 91 Assistant expanded its services to the Android platform, capturing approximately 90% of the domestic mobile assistant market [4]. Market Dynamics - In 2012, 91 Assistant experienced explosive growth, reaching over 100 million users and accumulating more than 10 billion application downloads [4]. - The acquisition of 91 Assistant by Baidu for $1.9 billion in 2013 marked a significant moment in the mobile internet landscape, as it was the largest merger in Chinese internet history at that time [4][5]. - Following the acquisition, 91 Assistant was rebranded as Baidu 91, and its user coverage reached hundreds of millions, with a market share exceeding 50% in 2014 [5]. Decline and Closure - The market share of 91 Assistant began to decline due to the improved functionality of the Apple App Store, reduced demand for jailbreaking, and the rise of proprietary app stores from manufacturers like Huawei and Xiaomi [5][6]. - Despite attempts at transformation and integration into Baidu's ecosystem, 91 Assistant struggled to adapt, leading to the closure of its distribution channels by 2020 [6]. - The shutdown of 91 Assistant signifies the end of an era in the mobile application distribution industry, reflecting the natural evolution of the market [6].