Software companies have denied reports of a government ban on Web browsers that allow users to cutÂ
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ahead of others when buying train tickets online.
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Popular software providers Beijing Kingsoft Software and Qihoo 360 both had the controversial programsÂ
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available for download on Sunday.
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The browsers have add-ons designed to help people buy seats at 12306.cn, the Railways Ministry's officialÂ
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ticketing website, and have been popular before the Spring Festival travel rush.
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However, critics say the software gives some people an unfair advantage, while media reports suggestedÂ
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officials were considering a ban.
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Jin Lei, a marketing manager at Beijing Kingsoft Software, which makes the Liebao browser, said onÂ
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Sunday that business was continuing as normal.
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He confirmed that company representatives had met with ministry officials, but declined to disclose moreÂ
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details. "The issue is still under discussion," he said.
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A spokesman for Qihoo 360, who gave her name only as Zhao, also dismissed talk of a ban. She said theÂ
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company had received a notice on Friday night from the Ministry of Industry and Information TechnologyÂ
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urging software developers to ensure the security of 12306.cn and to not do anything that may cause aÂ
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system crash.
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Since Jan 8, Qihoo 360's browser has helped 3 million Internet users get train tickets, Zhao said.
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However, according to a female receptionist at 12306.cn headquarters on Sunday, customers are beingÂ
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advised not to use such browsers or plug-ins due to privacy and security concerns.
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The browsers recently caused servers at Github, one of the largest code-management websites, to breakÂ
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down, the Mirror Evening News reported.
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"The Liebao browser and the plug-ins are totally safe," said Jin at Kingsoft. "We only help customersÂ
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search for ticket information, which will not affect the servers of 12306."
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He added that users merely get an optimized search result.
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Zhang Peng, a Beijing business consultant, bought a ticket to Jinan, capital of Shandong province, using theÂ
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Qihoo 360 browser on Friday.
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"I thought it was ‘game over' when the software told me there were only a dozen tickets left, and aboutÂ
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200 people in the line ahead of me," she said. "But just several seconds later, the magic happened.
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"The software helped me jump ahead of the others and I got a ticket."
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She endorsed the software, as the browser not only made her computer go faster, but also improved theÂ
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entire ticket- booking experience.
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"It makes up for drawbacks in the official ticket website, improving the things the official site should haveÂ
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done, but somehow did not," Zhang said. "For example, the browser automatically tells you how manyÂ
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people are waiting ahead of you when you click on a train number, so you can decide whether to changeÂ
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to another train or wait."
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Beijing lawyer Xiao Wenbin said while the software is unfair, it may not be against the law.
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The majority of migrant workers, who make up a large number of rail passengers during Spring Festival,Â
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are not familiar with the Internet and may not even know how to use such software, he said.
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"Trains are part of the public transportation system and should give equal opportunity to each citizen, noÂ
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matter if they can use the Internet or not," Xiao said.
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Li Shikai, 25, a graduate student in environmental science at Shanghai Ocean University, plans to travelÂ
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home to Kaili, in Guizhou province, for Chinese New Year in February.
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On Saturday, he tried to buy the ticket for his trip returning home on Feb 8 but failed after numerousÂ
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attempts. On Sunday, with the help of a special browser, it took just two minutes to get a sleeper ticket,Â
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which cost him CNY353.
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"The software really works, but for those who cannot use the Internet, that's a problem," Li said. "TheÂ
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ministry should keep a balanced ratio between the tickets sold online and those sold in ticketing office toÂ
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ensure fairness."
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