第一财经·2025-09-01 01:08Core Viewpoint - The shutdown of 91 Assistant marks the end of an era for Baidu's investment in mobile internet, reflecting significant changes in the mobile application distribution industry and the conclusion of early mobile internet benefits [4][5]. Group 1: Company Overview - Baidu acquired 91 Wireless for $1.9 billion in 2013, which was considered a landmark investment in the mobile internet space, surpassing the previous record set by Yahoo's $1 billion acquisition of Alibaba in 2005 [5]. - 91 Wireless was once the largest iOS "jailbreak" platform in China, amassing over 100 million users and achieving total downloads exceeding 10 billion [4][5]. - The application will cease all services on September 27, 2025, with users advised to back up their data, as it will be permanently lost post-shutdown [3]. Group 2: Industry Changes - The closure of 91 Assistant signifies a broader transformation in the mobile application distribution sector, as traditional app stores face diminishing value due to the rise of super apps and proprietary app stores from major smartphone manufacturers [5][6]. - The competitive landscape has shifted from focusing on traffic entry points and user engagement during the mobile internet era to prioritizing data, algorithms, and computational power in the AI-driven age [6]. - Baidu's struggle to integrate 91 Assistant into its ecosystem highlights the challenges faced by companies in adapting to evolving market dynamics and the need for deeper integration of technology, products, and ecosystems [6].