Giants scramble for the commanding heights; HTML5 will redefine the golden age of mobile

HTML5 is like a bomb dropped by the Internet industry. Some people haven't reacted yet, and the field they originally focused on may face a complete innovation. For example, the App that grew wildly and even a little wildly in the past few years. Although HTML5 has been developing in a tortuous way from its emergence to the standard being settled last year, the promotion of various H5 pages and H5 mini-games are constantly emerging. The field centered on HTML5 applications is also attracting the continuous approach of Internet giants, and even venture capital is frequently investing in this field. If you understand the future of HTML5, you will find that a new golden age of mobile Internet is coming.

Giants, grab both hands, both hands are strong

For China's Internet giants, they are currently doing two things: one is to compete for mobile portals while developing native applications, and the other is to open up HTML5. They are doing both well.

1. Tencent

Tencent, as the company that controls the largest mobile portal platform in China, is starting to build a powerful light application platform through the WeChat public platform. Tencent has been working hard to provide a simple and standardized solution for public accounts that lack development capabilities - everyone can develop "WeChat applications", which has attracted countless companies and users.

Recently, the most exciting thing for many companies and mobile developers is the release of WeChat JS SDK.

The WeChat JS-SDK package provides 11 types of interface sets. Developers can not only use WeChat's basic capabilities such as taking pictures, selecting pictures, voice, and location on the web page, but also directly use WeChat's unique capabilities such as WeChat sharing, scanning, cards and coupons, and payment. This also means that the WeChat public platform will be more open and the customizability of WeChat public accounts will be more flexible.

For users, the HTML5 they see in WeChat is no longer limited to simple page displays, but a more comprehensive App with more interactive functions. For third-party developers, it is easier than ever to abandon native applications and focus on making HTML5 applications based on WeChat. For enterprises, WeChat marketing will become easier, and the connection between enterprises and users will be easier.

In addition, as the second largest browser in China, QQ Browser is also opening up its web applications in full swing.

However, at the same time, Tencent is also working hard to build a powerful application distribution platform, App Store, and realize application distribution by binding all platforms such as WeChat, mobile QQ, browsers, Tencent Mobile Guard, etc. This year, Tencent's efforts in App Store have increased Tencent's market share in mobile application distribution to 22%, almost the same as 360.

2. Baidu

As for Baidu, it has established its leading position in mobile application distribution through the acquisition of 91 Mobile Assistant, Android Market, and its own Baidu Mobile Guardian and Baidu Search.

However, from the perspective of Baidu's strategic development, Baidu attaches more importance to the construction of the HTML5 platform. Moreover, Baidu has launched the concept of "light applications" a long time ago. The essence of Baidu's light applications is HTML5, and it has launched various technical open interfaces to developers and enterprises.

At the same time, Baidu provides traffic to these companies and users through Baidu Browser, Baidu Search, etc., encouraging users to maintain their original search habits, and launched direct numbers to serve companies.

3. 360

360, on the one hand, is promoting the development of native applications through 360 Mobile Assistant and 360 Mobile Guard, and on the other hand, is accelerating the layout of HTML5 through 360 Search and 360 Browser. In particular, when UC announced its entry into mobile search in 2014, it seemed to stimulate 360, and 360 also began to realize the importance of mobile search and browser portals in the future, and began to vigorously promote 360 ​​Mobile Search and 360 Mobile Browser last year.

4. Sohu

On January 15, at the launch of Sohu Mobile 3.0 and the HTML5 technology seminar, Sohu revealed that Sohu Mobile 3.0 is based on HTML5 technology. Zhang Chaoyang once strongly recommended QQ Browser and Tencent X5 Browser in his personal Weibo. In fact, Zhang Chaoyang's move is nothing more than to encourage users to use browsers more, and the content of Sohu Mobile built with HTML5 technology can be better displayed on browsers.

You should know that Sohu News Client is a news client created by Sohu with the efforts of the entire company. Now Zhang Chaoyang is promoting the formation of the HTML5 ecosystem, which shows that Zhang Chaoyang is well aware of the coming trend of HTML5.

5. Alibaba

Alipay, the world's largest online payment platform, is also providing a bridge between businesses and users through its service window, and the application of this bridge is based on Alipay's internal HTML5.

As the largest mobile browser in China, UC Browser also puts the openness of HTML5 at the center. At present, the monthly active users of UC Web Application Center have exceeded 60 million, and it has collected more than tens of thousands of lightweight applications in 20 categories. Moreover, more than 90% of domestic application developers will promote their lightweight applications through UC Web Application Center.

Not only that, UC Shenma Search is also beginning to work hard to establish a seamless connection with light applications, to connect light applications with users and open up more traffic entrances.

Judging from the strategic development and changes of mobile Internet and giants, whether it is 360 Mobile Guard, Baidu Mobile Guard, Wandoujia or Tencent Mobile Guard, mobile application distribution is more about providing entry and diversion for mobile games and daily essential tools for mobile phones.

For the giants, HTML5 has become increasingly important in building a truly powerful mobile entry platform. Similarly, for enterprises and many developers, using the giants' platforms to develop lightweight applications that are more suitable for the platform can bring more traffic and resources for themselves and achieve better docking with customers.

Venture capital pours in, HtmL5 is the next hot spot

As early as 2010, Leiyou Technology, a company focusing on HTML5, received angel investment from Sinovation Ventures. However, at that time, HTML5 itself had some defects, the network environment was very poor, and the entire smart phone environment was not yet mature, so companies doing HTML5 had no choice but to transform. However, last November, HTML5 R&D engine Egret received $10 million in financing from Xiaomi. On January 21 this year, Sinovation Ventures once again invested tens of millions of RMB in the rapid light application field of HTML5. According to exclusive news from Liu Kuang, cloud adaptation, which has also been sticking to the H5 camp, is also being pushed to the focus of investors and is about to complete a larger financing in this field.

Although the development of HTML5 is tortuous, those who persist and succeed in the end will always see perspectives that ordinary people cannot see. "I have always believed in the future of HTML5. It is definitely not as simple as the web pages we see. The changes it brings may be subversive." Chen Benfeng, a former core developer of Microsoft browsers, said. "For example, the concept of browser will become completely different. In the future, we need to talk about WebView instead of Browser. In the future, users only need to find an H5 web content aggregation entrance to easily obtain various application information without downloading. So how can we accelerate the arrival of this environment? This is what Amaze UI, a cross-screen front-end framework we are currently developing, is doing for everyone.

In addition, the Amaze UI framework launched by Yunshipei prioritizes mobile and provides rich web components for free to allow developers to easily enter the HTML5 field. It has become one of the top ten most popular domestic open source software within a few months of its launch. This may be one of the important reasons why it has attracted the attention of venture capital.

Whether it is the competition between giants or the influx of venture capital, we can see that HTML5 has brought more opportunities to entrepreneurs. The arrival of the HTML5 era will have a huge impact on the entire mobile Internet landscape and will also trigger a new revolution.

Author: Liu Kuang, founder of Gou Tuan Bang Information and Forbes columnist, WeChat public account: bangkeji

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.