Rumor: WeChat Upgrade May Add Payment, Subscriptions, Gaming
Sohu IT, 5/03/13
Guan Peng, general manager for third-party microblog account management tool Pipi Jingling and noted fan of Chinese Internet and mobile services firm Tencent's (0700.HK) WeChat (Weixin) mobile messaging application, revealed today that Tencent could release version 5.0 of WeChat as early as this month. According to Guan, WeChat 5.0's new features, outlined below, will revolve around WeChat's public accounts platform:
1) A paid subscription feature for public accounts, allowing account operators to charge followers to subscribe to their accounts.
2) The launch of payment functionality. With integration between WeChat and Tencent's third-party payment tool TenPay, WeChat will officially support payments. WeChat will also add mobile payment features allowing users to pay by scanning QR codes with their smartphones.
3) The possible launch of a WeChat gaming platform. Tencent's interactive entertainment business group previously confirmed that it was at work on a WeChat gaming platform, but there has been no public demonstration as yet. The new platform could launch alongside WeChat 5.0.
4) Categorization of WeChat public account information: public account postings will be split off under a single dedicated menu option, rather than mixed in with updates from regular accounts.
Keywords: business model mobile gaming wireless Tencent 0700.HK Guan Peng WeChat mobile IM
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