The big thing in the Chinese mobile ecosystem isn't apps or games.

It's all about building massive platforms.

Earlier in the year, Qihoo 360 was reckoned to the #1 Android app distribution channel, but there are plenty of companies out to topple it.

Internet company Baidu recently paid $1.85 billion in cash to buy 91 Wireless, giving it scale in the Android distribution market.

During the TechCrunch Shanghai conference last week, it was bigging up its future.

The CEO of 91 Wireless, Joe Hu, said that at the start of the year, the company expected to generate between RMB 400 - 500 million (over $65 million) for thirdparty app developers during 2013.

The good news for developers is it reached that total in October.

The 800lb penguin

Baidu isn't the only or the largest company after Qihoo 360's crown, however.

Tencent has massive reach in China, through its Twitter-like QQ instant messager and the more smartphone-friendly WeChat. Both channels can be used for mobile game distribution and monetisation.

At TechCrunch Shanghai, its VP Peter Zheng revealed that the company would have distributed around RMB 5 billion (around $800 million) to its thirdparty developers during 2013.

Of course, this set of companies is much wider than just mobile game developers, including subscription-based music, video and other media content services such as blogging across mobile and desktop.

[source: TechNode - Baidu, Tencent]