Rumor: Makers of Dolphin Browser Close to Series B Funding Round

The Chinese-made Dolphin Browser could be on course for a second, major round of funding, according to rumors on Chinese tech blogs. Word is that an unnamed contact at Mobotap, the makers of the smartphone-only Dolphin Browser, has confirmed that series B funding has been going on, but no other details have emerged. Thought to be worth “tens of millions of dollars,” it wouldn’t be too great a shock if the second round was worth more than its first round, in July last year, which raised $10 million.

The first time around, the investment was led by Sequoia Capital; but the rumors suggest that Qualcomm Ventures, the investment arm of chipmaker Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM), would be ploughing in the greatest amount for the series B. We contacted two Mobotap people in the US – at their San Francisco base – over 12 hours ago, but have yet to get a response.

Dolphin Browser has been a worldwide success, generating over 12 million downloads on iOS and Android since it launched in early 2010. Over 80 percent of its user-base is in the US, meaning that its home market of China is not so much a priority. Another Chinese browser maker looking overseas is UCWeb, makers of the multi-platform UC Browser for mobiles, which is aiming at a US IPO in 2013.

When we last heard from Mobotap, it had inked a deal with Japanese telco KDDI to have Dolphin Browser pre-installed on some of its new smartphones.

We’ll update if we get a response, or when this is made official.

[Source: Leiphone – article in Chinese]