wechat（微信）
 

9/13/2015 update
This morning, I created a group named "ft people on wechat". I am pretty sure you can join it by searching for it. If not, just add me (moondogsh), and I'll add you to the group.

The reason I created this group is two-fold:
1. The bj/sh meetings threads here are useless
2. Wechat is a lot more advanced than IB
*************************************************
Since I didn't have a smart phone for several months last year, I was kind of slow to the punch bowl on this phenomenon, but now that I'm on board, I must say that I'm completely wowed. It's nearly as disruptive as the iPhone (leaves other chat clients in the dust, and is extremely "social").

This is just the latest case of a Chinese company copying a Western technology and making it categorically better (other examples include weibo v. Twitter, Qunar v. Kayak, QQ v. MSN, and Dianping v. Groupon).

I particularly like the feature that allows you to switch between your phone and your computer using the QR code (first time I've ever seen a good use for QR codes), though I must admit that offering a PC based client would address the same problem.

^

Lots of my Chinese friends are hooked on wechat and got me onboard last year. Voice and video capability built in. Very easy to chat with one or several friends at the same time.

The WSJ had a few articles highlighting Tencent's push via wechat and the large increase in subscriber base.

I use it all the time to chat with my Chinese friends, seems to have taken over QQ.

Sorry haven't found some obvious difference btw wechat (微信) and QQ. QQ has been working well for me. Should I use wechat?

Well, they're both Tencent products, but it's sort of like comparing DOS and Windows (same company, same basic functionality; the latter is far richer).

You can send QQ messages through weixin

Its OK - I find the app to be a little bit slower, but more consistent than QQs. Meaning it never freezes like the QQ one.

When you see people listening to what seems to be a voicemail over and over again....it's weixin

Wechat allows you to leave short audio messages. And the best feature is I don't have to hear the annoying beep beep beep beep beep noise of QQ all around anymore, esp the subway.

Yeah, wexin/wechat is great for voice messages.

Ah... I have to agree with you guys the voice (audio) messages is great feature Wechat has but QQ doesn't have.

The copies though are needed for increased control, that's about it.
(Then again I have a work VPN for China/UAE/Saudi travel)

This 'voice message' thing can get super annoying! My wife's cousin and friends are constantly doing the voice thing when we go out drinking with them. I find it silly... I mean if you gonna send/receive 10+ voice messages, might as well just dial that person and talk it out! Girls seem to love this feature though...

I can't believe there is a discussion of we chat without a mention of it's most used feature! The "look around" function that allows you to view all users close by you which can be further sorted either into male or female users.

ie.. the "Shake" function. I have some friends here in HK that use to exclusively try to pick up girls...

One can leave short audio messages on WhatsApp too (i know a Chinese friend of mine has done it). was a surprise to me!

One of my friends taught me about "shaking" a few days ago... even more fun than "look around".

Anyone know how to add QQ contacts using WeChat? It's the only thing I find myself still logging into QQ to do.

Warning, I thought that was a fun thing to do until I noticed a bunch of Greetings from some "friends" offering services.

Momo 陌陌 is even "better" for these purposes. :p

I downloaded the thing after reading this thread but still have to try using it.
Haven't linked it to my phone address book so I still have a blank slate of wechat contacts.

Anyway I see you can add QQ contacts by going to Contacts, press Add, then select QQ Contacts from the menu. I tried it once but it says I'll need my contact's permission to add them to wechat.

That is to invite QQ friends to wechat. It doesn't let you to input a QQ number.

I QQ has this option now right?

Simply downloading MoMo will get you tarred and feathered by your SO (assuming you have one), whereas weixin is a socially acceptable app.

Do you mean QQ International? Haven't tried it. But seems QQ International only works on PC or Mac but not on Mobile phones / tablets.

Nope, it's the normal QQ for my Android phone, it's in chinese. It has voice message option when click the + sign on the left.

Wow... Got it! Press the speaker icon, it allows recording & sending voice message. Thank you for reminding me. Believe I will learn more from this thread... :p

Weixin is the coolest app ever. I will share my recent tale with those of you who are able to meet me offline.

Where you at in May/June?

上海 (for sure).

Ok, I should be going. Still planning at the moment...

Feel free to LinkIn with me so I can invite you to the Shanghai Monday Club. About 20% of our conversations revolve around weixin/momo (though we try to focus on business related topics).

Just one word ...
 

Dangerous:D

A (Chinese) friend told me today that there is a FB group called something like "avoid foreigners on MoMo". Since I've been off of FB for 6 years, I can't vouch for this, but the idea does not shock me. Be nice to the Chinese, ladies and gents. :)

My job doesn't revolve around traveling outside of Singapore. So I just travel for R&R. Let me do some planning for May..

Ok for Wechat there's a Moments feature that allows you to post pix for all to see. Is there any way to select who gets to see the pic or not? There are times I don't want my coworkers to know that I'm somewhere that I shouldn't be...

Edit: OK I found it on my own, when I tried to upload a pic there was an option to select who would be able to see it, as well as an option to create groups of contacts.

I too love WeChat.

Best feature is clearly the "speech messages".. including Group chats.

sigh:td::td::td::td::td:

I've heard of this group as well, although from what I can gather it is not working too well (anecdotal evidence of course).

I've finally figured out how to add "moments" (i.e. use the camera icon on your moments page), and have been shocked by how much people seem to care about this feature. That having been said, if the masses really want to see pictures of my XLB, I'll keep them coming.

I too love the voice message feature - it certainly saves time and avoids eye strain as I don't have to tap out words in pinyin and look for the proper character anymore. :p

Concerning moments, is anyone able to see others' likes and comments on another person's Moments page? It seems to me that only the owner of the Moments page can see the likes and comments, while everyone else can see only the comments the Moments page owner makes. Can't decide if I like it this way, or if I'd prefer we can see others' comments to perhaps stimulate more conversation (or banter, really :))

I thought I had seen it all, but "weixin stores" are the rage here in Nanning.
Anything I could fancy purchasing is available via "look around". I've read that Alibaba isn't so happy about this development because they dislike it when other companies try to aggregate Tbao/Tmall, but there's really not much they can do to stop it... disruption before our very eyes.

:D so it's not the females, but the need of face cream and gucci bags that drew your attention to -look out- :D