Launched in 1999, Alibaba.com (www.alibaba.com) is the leading global e-commerce platform for small businesses around the world. It aims to be the go-to English-language platform for cross-border trade and help small businesses worldwide expand to overseas markets. As of December 31, 2012, the platform operated in some 240 countries with around 36.7 million global and 2 million UK registered users, showcasing more than 2.8 million supplier storefronts. Alibaba.com is a business within Alibaba Group.