WeChat Is Huge Now

Introduction

In this article, I will give you an elaborated introduction about a Chinese social app, WeChat. WeChat in Chinese pinyin is called wēixìn that literally means micro-message. In the year 2016, the number of WeChat accounts had already reached a billion with over 70 million active users outside of China(2015). In my opinion, WeChat is the most successful social application in China. One of the reasons why it is greatly influential and unstoppable that it is cross-platform. You can text your friends through WeChat on Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Symbian phones.  In addition, it works well on OS X and Windows computers(n.d.). Moreover, the second reason is its convenience and useful and efficient features.

Chart Title: Number of monthly active WeChat users from 2nd quarter 2010 to 3rd quarter 2016 (in millions)

(Source is from https://www.statista.com/statistics/255778/number-of-active-wechat-messenger-accounts/)

Features

WeChat has a number of useful features.

Messaging

What else can you do in WeChat other than basic words inputting?  You can do hold-to-talk (voice message). WeChat was one of the pioneers who introduced voice message to this app. As you know, typing Chinese characters was comparatively more laborious than other certain languages. Therefore, WeChat programmers brought voice message in WeChat. It brings lots of convenience to their users. In addition, their hearted programmers designed plenty of various interesting stickers for their users. One simple sticker can convey users’ meanings sufficiently. Some of these stickers reflect issues in current society; some are the funny face expressions of famous celebrities. Hence, people love using these stickers when talking on WeChat. Here is the picture that a user was chatting with google translator(one of WeChat robots).

(Source is from https://walkthechat.com/5-wechat-accounts-using-artificial-intelligence/)

Moments

In the Chinese version of WeChat, "Moments" is called friends circle or social circle. It is sort of like Facebook Timeline. After opening Moment in WeChat, you will see different friends’ words or links they shared. Of course, you can make any comments below what they posted, but not everyone can see them. I will explain the reason of it in next blog.  In recent years, it has been quite common that people sell and promote products online through eBay, Amazon, Alibaba, and so on. Indeed, many of small business individuals who don't have actual stores tend to sell goods in WeChat. Therefore, the platform of Moments can bring massive fortune to some businesspersons.  Below are pictures showing how to upload your posts.

(Source is from http://blog.wechat.com/2015/06/12/tech-tip-your-guide-to-wechat-moments/)

WeChat Pay

Ali Pay and WeChat Pay were designed out successively before Apple Pay was born. It's also known as a digital wallet.  After binding with debit or credit cards, users can actualize transferring money to any contract and complete depositing received money to your bank account within a certain time. If not linking with bank accounts, users’ WeChat accounts only can send the limited amount of money between contacts in the form of Lucky Pocket. It is not only the tool of sending and receiving money but also the tool of payment. Users almost can engage in any business activities by WeChat. Sellers can post their goods information web pages on their official accounts, and these accounts followers can place orders from these information pages via WeChat Pay. With this kind of digital wallet service expanding, as a WeChat user, in addition to purchasing stuff on the variety of online stores and official accounts, I also can visit an actual store and then purchase stuff by scanning my own QR code.  In other words, I do not have to bring any bank cards with me while I am shopping. What’s more, users are able to order taxis, buy movie tickets, donate, top up to mobile phones, and make payments to credit accounts (some features are not available outside of China). According to my experience, you really do not have to have any cash or card with you when you get out in China because almost every business service accepts WeChat Pay or Ali Pay, except some business in Chinese rural areas. Meanwhile, there are some security problems existing. For instance, if some fraud defrauded a user’s payment passcode, the fraud would take all the money out of his bank accounts linked with WeChat Pay.  Overall, social media app is changing the way to pay, and lifestyle. Here are different payments as follows.

 Quick Pay

QR Code Payment

In-App Web-based Payment

 In-App Payment

(Source is from https://pay.weixin.qq.com/wechatpay_guide/intro_method.shtml)

Locating

Considering making it easier to share each other’s locations, WeChat added location share function in conversation box. Users are able to find each other on the map embedded in WeChat.

(Source is from http://www.fonearena.com/blog/101821/wechat-introduces-real-time-location-sharing-feature.html)

There are other small functions such as WeRun and Official Account. WeRun is a step tracker, and sharing the number of your daily steps on the WeRun page. Official accounts provide additional small services, such as learning English, sharing stories, reading news, and alarm alert.  Overall, it is not exaggeration to say WeChat almost can do everything.

 (Source is from http://blog.wechat.com/2015/08/26/step-your-way-to-fitness-with-werun/)

To help you have a better understanding of WeChat, here is a small WeChat documentary.

Reference

1.Tencent. (2015, August 12). TencentTencent - Investor Relations - Financial Releases - 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2017, from https://tencent.com/en-us/investor.html

2. WeChat for Windows. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2017, from http://weixin.qq.com/cgi-bin/readtemplate?t=win_weixin