Qihoo's Qiku smartphone (Photo : PR Newswire)
Internet tycoon Zhou Hongyi has thrown his hat into the crowded Chinese smartphone market on Wednesday by announcing a premium “phablet” device, which he claims would stick out from the competition.
Zhou, the co-founder of China's biggest Web security company, Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd., boasted that the 3,599-yuan ($562) Qiku phablet has data safety features better that those found in other smartphones in the market, including Apple's iPhone 6 Plus that sells at 6,088 yuan ($952).
"Information security is what we have been doing for decades, and no other manufacturer can surpass us," Zhou said.
The flagship of the joint venture between Qihoo and Chinese smartphone vendor Coolpad, the Qiku phablet can automatically block malicious apps and fraud calls, which could prove handy for Chinese users plagued by tech-savvy scammers.
Qiku can detect more than 80 million fraudulent phone numbers, far higher than those found in competing devices with personal data protection functions, a spokesman from Qihoo said.
Zhou said that the company will also offer free insurance of up to 120,000 yuan ($18,700) for the phone's users.
"Even Apple iOS security, while well done, lacks this capability to protect people from the growing threat of mobile fraud," he added.
Qiku also announced two smartphone models targeting the mid-range and entry-level markets.
Although Zhou did not disclose the exact sales targets for the devices, the higher priced phone is pitted against Huawei's Ascend P7 flagship model and higher-end phones from Samsung.
Zhou also dismissed earlier reports that Qihoo will be acquiring Taiwan-based vendor HTC Corp.'s smartphone plant in Shanghai.
