Alibaba’s own operating system YunOS is taking over Apple’s iOS to become the second-largest mobile operating system in China.

The Chinese mobile operating system is getting 14 percent share of smartphone shipment in mainland China by the end of 2016, surpassing Apple, according to Fortune. It estimated that the total shipments of YunOS-powered smartphones this year will be more than 100 million units. Earlier this year, Alibaba claimed that YunOS had already exceeded iOS in China in the first quarter of the year that ended March 31. 

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“We want YunOS to be the 'go-to' operating system for China's smart industry,” said YunOS product director Aiden Yong.

Alibaba’s YunOS also works as an operating system for smart home appliances, television set-top boxes, tablets, smart cars, internet-connected smart TVs, and even SoftBank Group Corp’s humanoid robot named “Pepper." The Chinese e-commerce giant is offering subsidies from 20 yuan ($3) to 60 yuan ($9) each set-top box to promote the adoption of YunOS.

Handsets and other devices that use YunOS help Alibaba to reach user and learn more about their preferences and other behaviors helpful to the company’s marketing strategy, South China Morning Post. The data gathered from its users will aid Alibaba in providing better different online services, content, and marketing for its huge ecosystem. 

Operating system YunOS was built from the free Linux software. It was launched on July 2011 using the Tianyu K-Touch W700 smartphone. In 2015, Alibaba acquired Meizu to help ramp up YunOS adoption.

Alibaba hopes to make YunOS the widely used OS for Chinese consumers. However, they still need to work more since majority of Chinese mobile users are using Google Android handsets.

Tagsapple, iOS, Alibaba, YunOS, mobile operating system, Android, Meizu, OS, mobile OS