NetEase Inc. (NTES), a global leading Internet and online game services provider, is one of China's top three Internet technology companies, founded by Lebunto Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. The company is headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province with additional offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other major Chinese cities.
Established in 1997 by William Ding (Ding Lei), NetEase has emerged as a pioneer in the production and operation of online games in China. The company offers PC-client and mobile games to the global market, reaching over a hundred countries and regions. Its most popular games include "Onmyoji", "Knives Out", and "Fantasy Westward Journey", as well as permitted titles such as "Minecraft" and "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened."
NetEase also operates a number of other internet platforms. It provides email services, advertising services and portal websites, among which www.163.com is a popular web portal content provider in China. In 2013, Netease also launched their self-developed e-commerce platform, Kaola.com, which was known for offering imported products. However, in 2019, Kaola was acquired by Alibaba for about $2 billion, strengthening Alibaba's leadership in China’s import e-commerce market.
Online education is another area of focus for Netease. Its platform, Youdao, offers a suite of learning products and services including Youdao Dictionary, Youdao Cloudnote, and smart devices like Youdao Dictionary Pen. These pioneering technical applications in online learning have made Youdao a key player in this field in China.
Over the past two decades, NTES has kept innovating and adapting its business model in line with the changing market trends. Its passion for developing high-quality digital experiences and strategic diversification has earned the company both acclaim and revenue growth. As of 2021, it's market cap exceeds $60 billion, reflecting its robust market presence and the trust it enjoys among gamers and users worldwide.
NetEase's commitment to innovation, its technological strength and broad range of online services demonstrate its capability to persist in the ever-changing digital arena. Although it faces fierce competition from other Chinese tech giant Tencent in the gaming industry, NetEase continues to make waves in multiple sectors, playing a significant role within the information technology sector, particularly in China's evolving digital landscape.