Alibaba unveils new app to rival WeChat

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Shanghai Daily, September 24, 2013
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Alibaba, China's largest e-commerce company, Monday launched its Laiwang mobile messaging software application as it competes with rival Tencent's WeChat to capture more mobile users and generate traffic through smart devices.

The new app allows users to share pictures and video clips as well as form chat groups comprising up to 500 members. By offering some features that Tencent's WeChat doesn't have, Laiwang hopes to boost subscribers to 100 million in one year, according to an e-mail statement yesterday.

This app will help connect different aspects of people's social life, lifestyle and consumer habits, Alibaba said.

Earlier this month, Alibaba set up a mobile Internet business unit to expand its services as it seeks to attract more users.

"Alibaba chose to join the mobile messaging battle as it will help the company diversify its business and offer more opportunities on the mobile Internet besides running online shopping sites," said Hu Yanping, founder of research house Data Center of China Internet.

The number of mobile instant messaging users in the country climbed 13 percent in the first half to 397 million, said a report by state-backed China Internet Network Information Center.

Tencent's WeChat, the most popular mobile messaging tool, has around 236 million monthly active users and more than 300 million subscribers.

China's mobile instant messaging market is becoming crowded after China Telecom last month launched its instant-messaging app called Yixin in collaboration with online game and portal operator NetEase.

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