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Luo Anwu, general manager of Ahead Technology, makes a keynote speech during the news conference in Guangzhou on Feb. 21. [Photo / Ahead Technology]

Karaoke is one of the most popular ways to have fun for Chinese people. Everywhere in China, you can find a KTV to sing with friends. Now, some shopping malls, cinemas and tourist spots are installing mini-KTVs called M-bars.

The first M-bar was installed at a shopping mall in Xiamen, Fujian last July. After only half a year, there are about 3,000 M-bars in 135 cities in 30 provinces. On average, an M-bar sees 70 users per day.

Because of their success, the M-bar 2.0 has been unveiled at a news conference in Guangzhou on Feb. 21. The new product, which can be installed anywhere with access to the Internet and power, has improved structural safety, operating systems, hardware and music quality.

The M-bar 2.0 uses glass that insulates heat and sound. It also has air conditioning and outlets for people to charge their phones.

Owners can operate the booths, whose operating systems are powered by Microsoft, with their phones remotely. They can start, close, reset and upgrade karaoke boxes without on-site staff.

The M-bar 2.0 has high-end acoustic diffusion walls to simulate a real recording studio. A built-in phone holder lets singers live-stream their performances.

The mini-KTV has space for just two people, but they can interact with other users online or with their friends on WeChat.

"The M-bar's biggest advantage is it gives people a place to sing spontaneously while socializing with friends or someone else singing online," said Luo Anwu, general manager of Ahead Technology Company which created the M-bar.

The M-bar 2.0 charges by time or number of songs and people can pay with WeChat. Because queues can get long, you can reserve a time-slot in advance.

At the end of the Feb. 21 news conference, Luo announced the M-bar 2.0 will cost 16,600 yuan, less than the original one at 27,880 yuan. He hopes more and more university graduates or white-collar workers will make money by buying and selling his karaoke boxes independently.

As the M-bar 2.0 hits the market, there will be about 60,000 to 80,000 karaoke boxes in total, available in every first and second-tier Chinese city. The company also plans to expand to Singapore and Thailand, with the first karaoke locations set to make their debut in May.

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