Connect with us

Technology

Taobao Upgrades 6 Refreshed Experiences for Cross-Border Users

Published

on

New “DISCOVER” Channel Connects Global Shoppers with Curated Brands and Distinctive Products from China

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Taobao Tmall World (“Taobao”) today announced a comprehensive upgrade to its cross-border shopping experience, expanding direct access worldwide to curated stores and products from China known for their quality, distinctiveness, and originality. Taobao has identified a trend in cross-border demand for Chinese goods, from seeking “low prices” to prioritizing “distinctiveness” and “quality.” To meet this evolving need, Taobao is leveraging its catalog of over 3 billion products available for cross-border purchase and its trusted official logistics network. On the supply side, Taobao is combining AI with human curation through a four-criteria selection framework – Quality, Distinctiveness, Price Competitiveness, and Service – to establish the “Taobao Curated Supply System”, which systematically identifies distinctive, well-made stores and products and recommends them to cross-border shoppers on an ongoing basis. At the same time, the app is refining its recommendation algorithms, enhancing AI shopping assistants, and launching the new “DISCOVER” channel to spotlight distinctive brands.

Kicking off with the Double 11 Festival, Taobao is partnering with popular actor Zhang Linghe to promote to cross-border shoppers worldwide the six refreshed experiences of the “Everything and Anything” brand following its comprehensive upgrade: QUALITY, TASTE, LIFESTYLE, TRENDY, SMART, and SURPRISE. This move leads cross-border e-commerce from traditional “shelf-based search” into a new era of “discovery-driven shopping.”

Global Demand for Original Chinese Brands Keeps Heating Up

Riding the “Quality and Distinctiveness” Wave, Taobao Unveils Six Refreshed User Experiences

In recent years, original Chinese products and content, including designer toys, dramas, animation, and games, have captivated global audiences. Many international travelers use the Taobao app the moment they arrive in China, ordering unique finds and having them delivered directly to their hotels. This growing demand for discovering distinctive “original Chinese brands and products” that are hard to find locally continues to gain momentum in many different ways. Taobao has also observed a clear shift in cross-border shopping preferences: from price-driven purchases to those centered on quality, distinctiveness, and personal taste. During the 2025 Double 11 Festival, the number of cross-border users choosing higher-priced items increased significantly, with high-value shoppers (spending over RMB 500 per order) growing by 10% year-on-year. The data shows that cross-border consumers are moving beyond basic availability and affordability toward a higher standard: “buying quality and buying distinctive.”

Ye Tian, General Manager of Taobao Tmall World, said: “The core value of Taobao is anchored in a cross-border catalog of over 3 billion products offering quality at competitive prices, reinforced by trusted cross-border logistics and localized services we have been building in individual markets over time. This ecosystem empowers cross-border users to fulfill diverse lifestyle needs and express personal style through shopping. Responding to users’ increasingly evolving expectations, we have launched an upgrade across six refreshed user experiences this year—spanning a curated supply system built on the four criteria of quality, distinctiveness, price competitiveness, and service, in-app feature enhancements, the new DISCOVER channel, advanced AI shopping assistants, a redesigned user interface for cross-border shoppers, and upgraded cross-border logistics. Every critical touchpoint in the cross-border shopping journey has been refreshed. We invite users everywhere to open the Taobao app now and experience the joy of discovery-driven shopping on “Everything and Anything” firsthand.”

Responding to the global trend, Taobao strengthens the “Everything and Anything” brand value globally, meeting users’ needs in each market for more personalized, more joyful everyday exploration and discovery. The six refreshed user experiences are defined as follows:

QUALITY: Enjoy Trusted Quality on Taobao.TASTE: Shop Stylish Designs on Taobao.LIFESTYLE: Embrace Diverse Lifestyle on Taobao.TRENDY: Catch the Viral Trends on Taobao.SMART: Upgrade to a Smarter Life on Taobao.SURPRISE: Discover Unexpected Finds on Taobao.

More than Choice, Value and Local Service: Discover Exclusive Products on Taobao

New Curated Supply System Brings China’s Signature Stores to the World

Taobao’s strength in product selection is powered by China’s comprehensive and agile manufacturing supply chain and its vibrant merchant ecosystem. Cross-border users can already buy over 3 billion products on Taobao, spanning apparel and accessories, home and furniture, smart electronics, pet supplies, designer toys, sports and outdoor products, and more – meeting everyday needs while serving niche interests and fast-moving trends. This delivers Taobao’s signature “Everything and Anything” promise: whatever you need, always within reach.

With this brand experience upgrade, Taobao is further strengthening its supply of distinctive stores and products, making it easier for cross-border users to discover well-made and well-designed stores from China. Building on existing breadth, efficiency and price advantage, Taobao has applied its four criteria – quality, distinctiveness, price competitiveness, and service – and integrated AI-driven selection with human expertise to build a systematic curation framework. From the vast catalog, it has unearthed over 4,000 original-brand stores and 6 million curated products, creating a distinctive selection of products for cross-border shoppers. Through dynamic updates and always-on recommendations, users need only open the Taobao app to instantly find quality goods, new trends, and distinctive items rarely seen in their local markets.

From Shelf-Based Search to the Joy of Discovery

Taobao “DISCOVER” Channel Is Live — Curated Finds, Premium Quality, Endless Joy

The all-new DISCOVER channel is now live. Built on the Taobao Curated Supply System, it organizes distinctive stores and products into 15 themed categories – women’s fashion, women’s footwear, menswear, furniture, toys, stationery, pet supplies, fitness, and automotive accessories, among others – tailored to the categories, interests and lifestyles cross-border users love most. Powered by an upgraded personalization algorithm, the channel surfaces stores and curated items upon entry. Users can explore brands’ signature aesthetics, hero products, and brand story, effortlessly finding pieces that match their personal style and taste.
Note: The DISCOVER feature is only available on the Chinese version of the Taobao app. The multilingual version does not support this function.

Taobao is also continuing to refine its AI shopping assistant suite, including AI Try-On, AI Virtual Makeup, AR Room Placement for furniture, Voice-Search-by-Hold, and AI Pet Care Guides. These tools help users judge sizing, how pieces coordinate, and how large furniture will look in their space, removing friction from buying certain categories online. Taobao will also roll out more than 30 AI Lifestyle Experts covering topics such as styling and baking.

Through in-depth conversation, these AI experts help users pinpoint their true needs and cut through choice overload, helping them find products that better meet their needs amidst a vast catalog.

Regarding localized content, the Taobao app regularly publishes local topic series such as “Taobao NowWear,” “Taobao Trend,” and local rankings, weaving product discovery into the topics local shoppers are already buzzing about and bringing the shopping experience closer to everyday needs.

Taobao Official Logistics: A Comprehensive Upgrade for Seamless Global Delivery

On-Time Delivery with Loss/Damage Compensation • Flat-Rate Shipping for Bulky Items • Easier Local Return Experience

Since 2016, Taobao has continuously invested in cross-border infrastructure, culminating in a direct-shipping network covering 20 markets by 2025, with free shipping introduced in select markets. This year, Taobao Official Logistics takes another step up, elevating the user experience through three core pillars – GUARANTEE, CONVENIENCE, and ASSURANCE – to deliver a trustworthy and highly predictable journey for cross-border users.

GUARANTEE: Taobao’s official logistics guarantees cross-border users both transparent costs and stable delivery times — a dual certainty. Depending on market conditions, Taobao offers tiered delivery commitments such as 1-, 3- and 6-day options, so Taobao’s specialty goods arrive on the scheduled date at the agreed shipping cost.CONVENIENCE: Simpler, within-reach cross-border logistics — one-tap direct shipping, end-to-end parcel tracking, and flat-rate direct shipping for bulky items across 10 markets worldwide. And Taobao Official Logistics now offers door-to-door delivery and installation in Hong Kong, China. Singapore has already reached a milestone of free shipping on large furniture, significantly lowering the barrier to using cross-border logistics.ASSURANCE: Taobao promises compensation for any lost or damaged parcel, backed by one-stop platform customer service that assists users throughout the process. The Local Returns service is further upgraded in 13 markets, so more cross-border users can return items conveniently nearby.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/taobao-upgrades-6-refreshed-experiences-for-cross-border-users-302910199.html

SOURCE Taobao Tmall World

Continue Reading

Technology

The National Association of Mortgage Brokers Announces its Launch of MORE, New Mortgage Education and Professional Development Platform

Published

on

By

NAMB MORE brings training, credentials, professional development and daily mortgage market information together in one place

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) the first and only national volunteer-led and membership-driven organization representing the interests of mortgage brokers and home buyers since 1973, today announced the launch of NAMB MORE(Mortgage Originator Resources and Education), a new learning and professional development platform designed to give mortgage professionals the education, resources and information they need to grow throughout their careers.

MORE officially launches today during NAMB National 2026, being held October 16–19 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The platform is designed as a long-term resource for mortgage professionals at every career stage, bringing training, credentials, professional development and timely industry information together in one place.

Mortgage professionals can learn more and access the platform at nambhasmore.org. Access to MORE will be free through NAMB Focus, January 7–9, 2027. Users must have a NAMB member profile to access the learning management system.

“NAMB MORE represents a significant investment in the future of mortgage professionals and the continued advancement of our industry,” said Michael Farrell, President of NAMB. “We wanted to create more than a collection of courses; we wanted to build a resource that professionals can turn to throughout their careers. NAMB MORE delivers valuable education, professional development and practical information members can apply to their businesses daily. ‘NAMB has MORE’ is a mantra the entire organization embraces, reflecting our commitment to providing the industry with innovative tools that support professional growth, strengthen advocacy and help foster our members’ success. “MORE was developed with the mortgage industry in mind, with NAMB and subject-matter experts contributing to the platform’s educational content.”

The platform is designed to support mortgage professionals from their first year in the business through experienced production, management and leadership roles. Educational resources span foundational mortgage knowledge, loan origination, mortgage programs and products, business growth, sales and marketing, borrower experience, professional development and more.

The MORE course library includes content across core categories such as:

Business Strategy & GrowthLoan OriginationMortgage FoundationsMortgage Programs & ProductsProfessional Development & Workplace SkillsSales, Marketing & Borrower ExperienceGeneral

Additional learning resources and credentials are designed to help mortgage professionals continue developing their skills as their careers evolve.

A key component of the new platform is the MORE Daily Dashboard, which serves as the home screen members see when they log into MORE. Rather than requiring members to visit the platform only when completing a course or pursuing a credential, the Daily Dashboard is designed to give mortgage professionals a reason to return every day.

The Daily Dashboard currently features:

Mortgage Rate Alert Widget: Provides information about the factors affecting mortgage rates and refreshes at least hourly.Upcoming Events: Highlights NAMB events and opportunities so members can stay connected to the association and industry.Daily Access to MORE: Provides a central starting point for accessing education, professional development and other resources.

“The Daily Dashboard is an important part of what makes MORE different,” added Farrell. “We want MORE to become part of a mortgage professional’s daily routine. Whether someone is checking the latest rate information, looking for an upcoming NAMB event or continuing their professional education, MORE puts useful resources in one place.”

About NAMB: The National Association of Mortgage Brokers has been the only national volunteer-led and membership-driven organization representing the interests of mortgage professionals and homebuyers since 1973. NAMB provides mortgage professionals with advocacy, education, and rigorous certification programs to recognize members with the highest levels of professional knowledge and education. NAMB’s active lobbying and advocacy efforts focus on national and state issues, protecting the interests of its members and borrowers. As the leading national trade association for the mortgage industry, NAMB is affiliated with state associations throughout the country and represents the interests of more than 546,800 licensed and registered Mortgage Loan Originators and 49,100 licensed Mortgage Broker and Mortgage Lender businesses throughout the U.S. www.namb.org

Media Contact

Joshua Steinfeld, Steinfeld Consulting, 1 339-225-1581, steinfeldconsulting@gmail.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/the-national-association-of-mortgage-brokers-announces-its-launch-of-more-new-mortgage-education-and-professional-development-platform-302910967.html

SOURCE The National Association of Mortgage Brokers

Continue Reading

Technology

The United States Golf Association Selects Gupta Media as Paid Media Agency of Record

Published

on

By

The appointment comes as the USGA looks to continue to strengthen brand equity and increase awareness and engagement with golfers nationwide

BOSTON, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The USGA, the non-profit governing body of golf in the United States, has named Gupta Media its paid media agency of record following a competitive pitch process that began in February. Gupta Media will lead paid media strategy, planning, buying and reporting in support of the USGA’s Championship ticketing and broader commercial initiatives, while helping grow brand equity, awareness and engagement across the organization. Its work will span key USGA priorities, including golf’s official Handicap Index® and GHIN app; the Rules of Golf and the USGA’s governance of the game; Membership; and initiatives that advance golf through sustainability, research and innovation, and greater access and inclusion. The relationship expands beyond media execution to include audience strategy, first-party data integration, measurement and optimization.

“Gupta Media stood out for its ability to connect the dots between data, audience strategy, media and creative to real business outcomes, so we’re incredibly excited for this next chapter.”

The relationship comes at an important moment for the USGA, with the organization focused on continuing to expand its reach and deepening brand affinity across the ever-growing, diverse golf community. Gupta Media will help drive ticket sales for some of the sport’s biggest events, including the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links, the 2027 U.S. Women’s Open at Inverness Club, the 2028 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club and the 2028 U.S. Women’s Open at Oakmont Country Club. The agency will also support the USGA in creating greater awareness and brand recognition for its corporate Partners through co-branded content and paid media.

Golf has an enormous network of people who love the game, creating a growing opportunity to build a deeper, more direct relationship between golfers and the organization. That challenge is exactly what Gupta Media is built to strategically address — from growing membership and promoting ticket sales for major live events to reaching new audiences and understanding customer lifetime value. By bringing together audience insights, first-party data and media performance, Gupta Media will help the USGA create more relevant, effective marketing that drives measurable business results while strengthening its connection with the next generation of golfers.

“We were looking for an agency that could bring a deep understanding of our audiences, a genuine enthusiasm for our mission and the strategic expertise to work with us through this next phase of golf’s growth,” said Lynn LaRocca, USGA’s Managing Director of Brand & Marketing. “Gupta Media stood out for its ability to connect the dots between data, audience strategy, media and creative to real business outcomes, so we’re incredibly excited for this next chapter.”

“There’s a personal element to this partnership that makes it especially rewarding. My golf journey began 30 years ago when I first visited Pebble Beach as a teenager, long before I could imagine actually playing on the course,” said Gogi Gupta, Founder, Gupta Media. “To now have the opportunity to connect that lifelong passion for the game with the work we’ve spent years building and fine-tuning our agency to do feels like kismet. We’re eager to bring our proficiency to an organization that plays a leading role in the great game.”

The relationship brings together Gupta Media’s deep experience in sports marketing with its data-driven approach to audience strategy, media and creative. The agency has developed a specialized set of tools and processes to address data and analytics challenges of sports and live events, including TallyTickets.com, its proprietary ticketing analytics platform that helps teams understand sales trends, forecast demand and make more informed marketing and media decisions. Gupta Media’s experience spans sports, entertainment, premium events, and pop culture, giving the agency a comprehensive understanding of the audience models and fan behaviors that shape the industry.

About the USGA:

The USGA is a mission-based golf organization whose purpose is to unify the golf community through handicapping and grassroots programs; to showcase the game’s best talent through the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, and 13 other national championships and our museum; to provide unbiased global governance with The R&A through the playing, equipment and Amateur Status rules; and to advance issues important to golf’s future, with a focus on driving sustainability.

About Gupta Media:

Gupta Media, a certified Minority Business Enterprise, is a strategic consultancy at the intersection of creative strategy, digital media, advanced analytics, and performance marketing. We drive growth for professional sports franchises, global tech leaders, DTC brands, major music labels, and other high-profile organizations by building intelligent media plans, best-in-class reporting tools, and custom enterprise technology. Founded 25 years ago by Cornell grad Gogi Gupta, the agency is known for developing new methods of maximizing advertising efficiency in a digital-first world. Harvard Business School’s case study on Gupta Media was taught to all incoming students for three years and is still taught around the globe.

Media Contact

Carly Carioli, Gupta Media, 1 617-682-3733, ccarioli@guptamedia.com, guptamedia.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/the-united-states-golf-association-selects-gupta-media-as-paid-media-agency-of-record-302911621.html

SOURCE Gupta Media

Continue Reading

Technology

China Mobile Hong Kong Establishes Hong Kong’s First U6G Network

Published

on

By

Expanding Next-Generation Network Capabilities and Accelerating the Innovative Convergence of Communication, Computing, and AI Laying a Solid Foundation for 6G Development in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited (“China Mobile Hong Kong”) announced that it has taken the lead in realising a U6GHz network, successfully completing network testing and validation at its Mong Kok flagship store and advancing the exploration of Upper 6GHz band applications in mobile networks. Implementing China Mobile Group’s strategy of “strengthening the network foundation and full-stack innovation”, China Mobile Hong Kong aims to enhance network capabilities through new frequency band applications, drive collaborative innovation between terminals and the wider industry, and lay a robust foundation for Hong Kong’s future 6G development.

Strategic Early Deployment of New Spectrum to Build Momentum for a 6G Future
U6GHz, or the Upper 6GHz band, can provide continuous wide bandwidth and is a crucial spectrum resource supporting 5G-A and future 6G evolution. On 29 November 2024, Hong Kong completed its 6/7GHz spectrum auction, becoming the first region globally to auction this frequency band for public mobile services. China Mobile Hong Kong successfully bid for 100MHz of continuous spectrum and has made appropriate forward-looking deployments, advancing network capability validation and terminal adaptation to accumulate experience for future 6G commercialisation.

Expanding Network Capacity to Enable Smoother Smart Applications
The newly added U6GHz spectrum can be utilised synergistically with existing frequency bands. Through various combinations with current spectrums, it can achieve download speeds of 3Gbps. The increased availability of spectrum helps enhance data transmission capabilities, accommodating more simultaneous user connections, improving the internet experience in highly congested areas, and supporting high-definition video and large-capacity data transmission.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into production and daily life, the demand for data transmission from devices such as smart glasses and AI robots continues to rise. China Mobile Hong Kong will promote the synergistic development of U6GHz and intelligent computing services, enhance connectivity between terminals and intelligent computing platforms, and explore AI image analysis, immersive interactions, and industrial applications. This will allow smart services to better integrate into everyday life and corporate operations.

Aligning with Mainland China and Hong Kong Blueprints to Consolidate the Foundation of Digital-Intelligent Development
China Mobile Hong Kong will actively align with the Nation’s “15th Five-Year Plan” and Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan. Focusing on “AI+”, computing infrastructure, and new industrialisation, the company will enhance communication and smart services through network upgrades to assist Hong Kong in building an international innovation and technology centre. Concurrently, China Mobile Hong Kong will collaborate with industry partners to accelerate the research, development, and testing of U6GHz products. By expanding hotspot coverage according to demand, it aims to drive the maturity of the industrial ecosystem and accelerate Hong Kong’s 6G development. Looking ahead, China Mobile Hong Kong will continue to leverage its strengths as a central state-owned enterprise, providing high-quality digital infrastructure to serve Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, thereby fully contributing to the building of a cyber superpower and a digital China.

About China Mobile Hong Kong Limited
China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited (“China Mobile Hong Kong”) is the wholly-owned subsidiary of China Mobile Limited (HKEx: 941), which is listed on the Fortune Global 500. China Mobile Hong Kong was incepted in January 1997 and was the first mobile network operator to launch PCS services in Hong Kong.

As the world’s leading mobile network brand with the largest customer base*, The Company offers innovative and comprehensive 5G communications services, including voice, data, IDD and international roaming. The Company is committed to the development of 5G with new technologies such as artificial intelligence, internet of things, cloud computing and big data, integrating 5G applications in different industries, promoting the construction and development of smart city groups in Greater Bay Area.

* China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Mobile Limited. As of 31 December 2025, China Mobile Limited had the largest number of mobile network subscribers in the world.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/china-mobile-hong-kong-establishes-hong-kongs-first-u6g-network-302911836.html

SOURCE China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited

Continue Reading

Trending