WeChat Introduces Merchant Wi-Fi Solution
Leiphone, 11/20/14
Chinese internet company Tencent's (0700.HK) WeChat mobile messaging app has unveiled a new "Weixin Lian Wi-Fi" ("WeChat Wi-Fi Connector") tool, available to enterprises on WeChat's official accounts platform. WeChat official accounts are used by enterprises and celebrities to interact with "followers."
With the new tool, WeChat users connecting to free Wi-Fi networks in restaurants, department stores and other locations will see the official account for their free Wi-Fi provider appear in their WeChat chat screen. For example a WeChat user accessing free Wi-Fi at a local restaurant would see that restaurant's official account appear in their chat screen, as well as a link allowing them to follow the account.
WeChat will provide official account operators with backend statistics on their free Wi-Fi users, allowing for better tracking of customer habits and demographics.
Editor's Note: For more information on this topic, please see "Rumor: WeChat to Add Local Listing Services," MD 11/06/14 issue.
Keywords: wireless Tencent Wi-Fi 0700.HK WeChat wireless networking