从 9 月 28 日 0 时开始，不仅 91 助手客户端无法启动、所有功能停服，官方网站、帮助中心及客服渠道 也将同步关闭。 在此期间，91助手向仍处于会员期的用户进行退费，但需要用户主动申请，未主动申请退费的用户将无 法获得退款。退款申请截止时间为2025年9月15日24:00，逾期将不再受理退款申请。对于 VIP 会员，官 方表示，会员服务截止日期晚于或等于 8 月 31 日的用户，均可申请从 9 月 1 日起的未使用期限的费用 退款。 公开资料显示，2007年，91 助手由网龙公司（NetDragon）旗下团队开发并发布。最初命名为91 手机助 手，核心功能为当时新出的智能手机iPhone 提供"越狱"、应用安装和文件管理等服务。 2009 年，91 助手开始拓展至安卓平台，新增 Android 刷机、手机管理等功能。此后这一应用的人气一 路飙升，当年几乎占据了国内手机助手市场 90% 的份额。随着智能手机普及，2012年，91 助手用户量 迎来爆发，成功突破 1 亿，下载量超100亿次，堪称移动互联网最早的流量入口之一。 图片来源：智通财经 已经面世近20年的91助手今日彻底关停。 9月28日，经典苹 ...

Core Points - 91 Assistant, acquired by Baidu for $1.9 billion, is shutting down its services on September 27, leading to the permanent loss of all user data [5][35][70] - The decline of 91 Assistant reflects a broader trend in the mobile application market, where third-party app stores are losing relevance as mobile ecosystems mature [15][72] Group 1: Company Background - 91 Assistant was originally developed as iPhone PC Suite by a user frustrated with iTunes, later acquired by NetDragon and rebranded [19][21] - At its peak, 91 Assistant had over 127 million users and 10 billion app downloads, making it one of the largest third-party app platforms in China [33] Group 2: Market Dynamics - The mobile application market was initially characterized by a lack of quality control, leading to the rise of third-party app stores like 91 Assistant and Wandoujia [16][28] - The acquisition by Baidu in 2013 aimed to secure a foothold in the mobile app distribution market, where Baidu's own app store had only a 6.7% market share compared to competitors [40][41] Group 3: Industry Evolution - The shift in control from software to hardware manufacturers has diminished the role of third-party app stores, as mobile manufacturers began to enhance their own app distribution channels [50][64] - The establishment of the Hardcore Alliance in 2014 by major smartphone manufacturers aimed to unify app distribution and improve user experience, further reducing the need for third-party stores [61][64] Group 4: Conclusion - The closure of 91 Assistant illustrates the transition from a chaotic app distribution environment to a more organized ecosystem, where user needs are met directly by manufacturers [70][72] - The fate of 91 Assistant serves as a reminder that third-party applications often thrive in transitional periods but may struggle to survive as the market matures [72]

Core 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].

Core Viewpoint - The era of application distribution is coming to an end, as evidenced by the announcement of 91 Assistant's complete service shutdown scheduled for September 27, 2025, due to business adjustments and product iteration needs [1] Group 1: Company History and Development - 91 Assistant was developed in response to the inconvenience of managing iPhones, with its initial version launched in February 2008, quickly becoming essential for iOS users needing to "jailbreak" their devices [2] - By 2009, 91 Assistant expanded to the Android platform and captured approximately 90% of the domestic mobile assistant market [2] - In 2012, 91 Assistant reached over 100 million users across iOS and Android platforms, with cumulative application downloads exceeding 10 billion [2] Group 2: Acquisition and Market Position - In 2013, Baidu acquired 91 Assistant and its parent company, 91 Wireless, for $1.9 billion, marking one of the largest mergers in Chinese internet history [3][5] - The acquisition was driven by the need to secure a foothold in the booming mobile application distribution sector, as Baidu sought to compete with other tech giants like Tencent and Alibaba [5] Group 3: Market Decline and Closure - Following the acquisition, 91 Assistant was rebranded as Baidu 91 and integrated with other Baidu products, achieving a user coverage of hundreds of millions and a market share exceeding 50% by 2014 [6] - However, the market share 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 [6] - Despite attempts at transformation, 91 Assistant struggled to integrate effectively into Baidu's ecosystem, leading to the closure of its services and the eventual shutdown of its distribution channels by 2020 [6]

Core Points - 91 Assistant, a mobile management application, will cease all services on September 27, 2025, due to business adjustments and product iteration needs [1] - Users are advised to back up their data before the service termination, as data will be permanently lost afterward [1] - Refunds will be available for users with active memberships, but they must apply for the refund by September 15, 2025 [1] Company History - 91 Assistant was developed and launched by NetDragon in 2007, initially gaining popularity as the largest iOS "jailbreak" platform, providing services like application installation and file management [2] - By 2009, 91 Assistant expanded to the Android platform, capturing nearly 90% of the domestic mobile assistant market [2] - In 2013, Baidu acquired 91 Wireless, the parent company of 91 Assistant, for $1.9 billion, marking it as one of the largest acquisitions in Chinese internet history [2][3] Market Dynamics - After the acquisition, 91 Assistant was rebranded as Baidu 91 and integrated with Baidu's mobile products, achieving a user base of hundreds of millions and a market share exceeding 50% in 2014 [3] - The rise of official app stores from Apple and Android manufacturers diminished the need for third-party tools like 91 Assistant, leading to a decline in its relevance [3] - By 2020, Baidu announced the discontinuation of 91 Assistant and the Android market, with the latest announcement marking the final closure of the product [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolution of Baidu Maps over the past two decades, highlighting its strategic shifts, technological advancements, and the challenges it faced in maintaining market leadership in the competitive landscape of mapping services. Group 1: Historical Development - Baidu Maps was launched in 2005, initially as a simple interface leveraging Mapbar's API, responding to over 8% of search requests related to maps [6][8] - The product underwent significant transformation in 2009 with a fully self-developed version, quickly gaining millions of daily active users [9] - By 2013, Baidu Maps had become a leading application with over 200 million users and a market share of 70%, largely due to its aggressive O2O strategy [27] Group 2: Strategic Shifts - Baidu Maps' strategy evolved from being a search traffic beneficiary to attempting to become an O2O service platform, integrating various services like ride-hailing and hotel bookings [20][21] - The transition to a more complex service model led to operational challenges, with users primarily utilizing the app for navigation rather than O2O services [28] - The competitive landscape shifted as competitors like Amap (Gaode) focused on enhancing user experience while Baidu struggled with app bloat and user retention [28][32] Group 3: Technological Innovations - Baidu Maps introduced real-time traffic features and advanced algorithms to improve navigation accuracy, setting industry standards [34] - The launch of the V20 version marked a significant technological advancement, integrating AI and enhancing user interaction through natural language processing [60][61] - The company also pursued internationalization by acquiring HERE Technologies' data to support users abroad, particularly as Chinese brands expanded globally [36] Group 4: Financial Performance and Challenges - Despite technological advancements, Baidu Maps faced financial difficulties, with annual revenues in the single-digit billion range and significant losses due to high operational costs [42] - The lack of a robust user account system hindered Baidu Maps' ability to create a comprehensive ecosystem, limiting its competitive edge against rivals like Amap [44][45] - The strategic misalignment and high marketing costs contributed to a decline in market share, prompting a reevaluation of the business model [43][46] Group 5: Future Directions - The current leadership under Shang Guobin aims to integrate various mapping services within Baidu's broader AI and autonomous driving initiatives, reflecting a shift towards a more data-centric approach [59][60] - The focus on high-precision maps and vehicle navigation systems indicates a strategic pivot towards supporting the autonomous driving sector, which is seen as a key growth area for Baidu [53][56] - The article concludes with a reflection on the enduring significance of mapping technology within Baidu's ecosystem, emphasizing its role in both consumer applications and foundational technology for future innovations [63]