Latest News:  

English>>China Society

Software gives travelers advantage

(Changjiang Daily)

08:52, January 21, 2013

A man waits in snow to enter Jinan Railway Station in Shandong province on Sunday. He was one of many making their way home before the start of the Chinese New Year’s travel rush. (Photo/ CHINA DAILY)

Software companies have denied reports of a government ban on Web browsers that allow users to cut ahead of others when buying train tickets online.

Popular software providers Beijing Kingsoft Software and Qihoo 360 both had the controversial programs available for download on Sunday.

The browsers have add-ons designed to help people buy seats at 12306.cn, the Railways Ministry's official ticketing website, and have been popular before the Spring Festival travel rush.

However, critics say the software gives some people an unfair advantage, while media reports suggested officials were considering a ban.

Jin Lei, a marketing manager at Beijing Kingsoft Software, which makes the Liebao browser, said on Sunday that business was continuing as normal.

He confirmed that company representatives had met with ministry officials, but declined to disclose more details. "The issue is still under discussion," he said.

A spokesman for Qihoo 360, who gave her name only as Zhao, also dismissed talk of a ban. She said the company had received a notice on Friday night from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology urging software developers to ensure the security of 12306.cn and to not do anything that may cause a system crash.

Since Jan 8, Qihoo 360's browser has helped 3 million Internet users get train tickets, Zhao said.


【1】 【2】



We Recommend:

2012 year in review: Steps of growth

2012 year in review: Say goodbye

2012 in review: Questions on responsibility

China’s weekly story (2012.12.27-2013.1.4)

New Year Wishes from left-behind children

Kazak's wonderful falcon game in Xinjiang

Food is the paramount necessity of life

Dense fog causes serious air pollution

Twisted, ugly ‘Tower of Large Intestine’ found

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:王欣、陈丽丹)

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. UN's equipment verification

  2. Mumbai in lens

  3. Carnival-related products sell like hot cakes in Brazil

  4. Photos: Chinese Style in 2012

  5. They made 2012 warm and beautiful

  6. Hangzhou Lingyin Temple distributes porridge, causing disorder

  7. Miss Chinese Africa beauty contest

  8. Scenery of Wuyuan at dawn after rainfall

  9. Small firms' last resort for financing

  10. Cute animals enjoy thier toys

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. U.S. sends wrong signal over Diaoyu Islands issue
  2. Labor shortage hits cities as holiday nears
  3. Reaching out to sympathetic Japanese
  4. The fall and rise of James Bond
  5. Intervention in Mali
  6. Proposal to help Chinese 'gay wives' stirs debate
  7. Tax wrong weapon to combat home prices
  8. What you may not know about studying abroad
  9. Reliance on land sales 'must be reformed'
  10. Heroism, a matter unrelated to wealth

What’s happening in China

Photos: Chinese Style in 2012

  1. Highly educated cleaners start jobs in Harbin
  2. Statistician suggests "scientific" population policy
  3. 11 injured in N China fireworks store explosion
  4. Railway police nab 5,144 drug smugglers
  5. Seven dead in Foxconn bus accident