WeChat is operated by Tencent in China and has seen a steady rise in popularity. Today, it is considered one of the most popular and widely used instant messaging apps for smartphones worldwide. The app provides a combination of many features provided by different messaging platforms.
WeChat was launched in 2010 under the original name of Weixin before it was rebranded in 2011. Today, the app is estimated to have a monthly user count of almost 450 million across the globe. The platform gained a lot of popularity in China with its voice messaging feature which proved to be much quicker than typing out the text.
WeChat is free to download and use and is available across all major platforms including iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry among many others. The application can also be used on web based platforms, but will require authentication and integration with a smartphone device first.
Operating as a live chat-room with a variety of many modern features, WeChat proves to be more than just a normal text messaging and chatting platform and ventures into the social networking territory as well. The app allows users to create a profile page and meet new people using the very popular shake and drift bottle features. It is estimated that 70 million people across China use WeChat.
With the 5.4 update version, WeChat allows Android users to easily bookmark and view unread messages. There is improved control over the settings and the app also features better capabilities with regards to search. There is also integration for LinkedIn and users can easily tag contacts. Many of these features are also available on the iOS.
The popularity of WeChat is on the rise with many instant messaging applications such as SnapChat, Line and Viber having been blocked in China. However, it is reported that since Tencent operates WeChat, messages have been censored and searches from outside the borders of China are filtered or blocked. However, it still is gaining popularity in China as options are very limited to users.
WeChat has a few major competitors. Facebook Messenger, after having been on a steady decline, has led to the company acquiring WhatsApp, another big name in istant messaging. WhatsApp is rivaling WeChat closely and being backed by Facebook, it is expected to launch new features very soon. WeChat currently provides a wider feature list, but developers cannot afford to get complacent and must work hard to keep rolling out newer features before the competition.
Whether the Chinese WeChat proves to be the undisputed king in terms of instant messaging is only something that time will reveal. Its current popularity has spared very few and most people can expect much more than just simple messaging features. With a combination of features provided by the likes of other providers like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and other messaging apps, WeChat proves to be an all in one platform. The app is also completely free to download, install and use and only requires an active internet connection.