Alibaba’s Xiaohao App Shut Down, Leaving Countless Users Frustrated

In a move that’s sending ripples through the tech community, Alibaba’s virtual number service, Ali Small Number (阿里小号), is shutting down.

The service is being phased out in batches, with existing numbers being reclaimed and account balances refunded at the original purchase price. The app itself is scheduled to be taken offline on October 31st.

The announcement ignited a firestorm of discussion on V2EX, a popular forum for programmers.

Comments ranged from dramatic declarations of “the sky is falling” to expressions of sheer frustration and heartbreak.

To those unfamiliar with Ali Small Number, such reactions might seem hyperbolic. But for its dedicated users, the sentiment rings true.

Why? Many have tied their second phone numbers to various key social platforms and online services…

Launched in 2014 by Alibaba Telecom as “Qin Xin Small Number” (亲心小号), the app allowed users to obtain virtual phone numbers without the need for a physical SIM card.

These numbers functioned like regular phone numbers, enabling users to make calls and send texts. This proved invaluable for managing interactions with delivery services, ride-hailing apps, and even for providing contact information to intermediaries or salespeople – offering a layer of privacy and protecting against potential harassment.

The price point was undeniably attractive. Promotional offers, such as six months free with a six-month purchase, often brought the annual cost down to as little as 20 yuan, or roughly $3 USD. Early adopters also enjoyed frequent free trial periods.

Back in the early days, free trials were frequently offered to users.

Around 2014, spam SMS messages were a major public nuisance.

Holidays and promotional events were often met with an deluge of marketing texts from retailers, real estate agents, used car dealerships, travel agencies, and beauty salons.

These messages often contained links to phishing websites or other scams, and a growing awareness of privacy concerns surrounding delivery services and the black market for personal information only exacerbated anxieties.

Within two months of its launch, Ali Small Number proudly announced it had facilitated over one million calls and received 750,000 calls.

Given the pervasive risk of personal data breaches, and the inherent vulnerabilities in third-party platforms, many privacy-conscious users adopted Ali Small Number to register and manage their online accounts. It became, in effect, a trusted proxy for their real mobile numbers.

So, if the service was so useful, why is it shutting down?

The answer, predictably, boils down to security concerns.

As early as 2017, reports surfaced detailing troubling experiences with Ali Small Number accounts.

In one instance, a newly acquired Ali Small Number was found to have been recently used to register for WeChat and engage in activities suspected to be related to illegal gambling ↓ ↓

Even a Didi account was registered to the number, revealing unpaid ride fares…

Presumably, a user requested a ride with a temporary virtual number, before abandoning it and refusing to pay.

Also, the phone number’s Tianyi digital e-mail that notified users that the phone number was used to register for Taobao and other platforms, indicating that virtual phone numbers were a hotspot for people doing tasks for special offers.

While tools are unbiased, the risk is caused by using it for good or bad.

In 2018, Alibaba Telecom was summoned by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) due to consistently ranking among the top providers for spam and harassment calls for three consecutive quarters.

It’s crucial to recognize that Ali Small Number is not solely responsible for security vulnerabilities, but that such vulnerabilities stem from the nature of virtual numbers.

In the past, the three major telecom operators have closed eSim card service because of security problems. Recently the service is expected for reform after the identification service is upgraded.

In mid-July, the central leading group also conducted research around the problem of managing telecom virtual numbers around the three major telecom operators.

The shutdown of Ali Small Number is not sudden.

Since 2019, this application had service stops, including users not being able to purchase new numbers, and renewal issues.

Each time there was a problem, there would be speculation: It is going to shut down soon!

The day is here even though it is late!

So are things that simple with shut downs and refunding fees?

Many people used it to sign up for accounts…

A V2 User mentions that “Many thanks to Ali Small Number for providing such a cheap service for so long, but I am pained to change many of my internet accounts!”.

Similar comments can be seen around the internet.

Many people signed up a long time ago, and can’t remember what they signed up for.

Under the current rules for controlling online accounts, the phone number has the administrator level clearance for account management, the more accounts one signs up, the harder it gets, and the possibility that one might lose the account altogether in the future.

How to fix it? The official team does not offer a response.

Now, the most effective measure that people can take: rely on text message records to determine which platform the virtual phone number is signed up for, and manually change it before the service stops.

If there are any errors or users forget what the phone number is used for?

Users can request to open the entrance proof to prove that one was signed up for the number, in case users would like to use it in the future. It is like this:

According to Ali Telecom’s official customer support, the proof provided will have a seal. The proof that is issued needs the machine owner’s ID number, with the official platform verifying before they provide it.

How much effect does the proof have?

The official customer support response said that it just shows that the person has used that small number.

World reporting that the author has attempted multiple measures to solve the problem to query which platform the small phone number had signed up with, but the result was unfortunately not satisfying.

It is able to solve issues in the People Republic of China, by unbinding the accounts, but the function is only available on mainstream platforms, which leads to limited effect.

The author has also attempted to attempt the three main telecom operators’ functions to refresh the account, and theoretically it can search to which platform the account is signed up to.

However, second account refreshing requires the user to input personal details, and the user is not receiving a message for identification.

At the same time, they realized that the customer accounts correspond to the group accounts, and the ID number is left blank, so it’s suspected that identity verification will not have the chance to go through.

Therefore, this method has failed.

So, can a formal complaint solve the problem? Someone mentioned that they had made a complaint to different avenues, and the end result was that the person was kicked around everywhere.

Sounds like the internet…

Back to the issue on Ali Small Number’s closing down the service, this app was used when there was a proliferation of phone call spam and it provided security.

However, it is time for it to exit the historical stage.

There are a lot fewer phone call spams, protection spams, and the protection of consumers is improving. Also, phone marketing is getting less serious.

Include formal eSim service, which stopped for two years and has restarted to offer the service later.

Right now, the users of the app should be treated with care.

Instead of acting it as if the problem went away.