[Tech]Try China's most popular IM in English - QQ

By 阿杜.Steward
Shanghai
Three reasons for why I write this post:

1) I am a fan of QQ myself, and today they have launched an English version for non-Chinese users (click to view)
2) Former consultants fill Tencent's core management team (AFAIK, Martin Lau and Julian Ma are Mckinsey and A.T.Kearney alumni respectively)
3) We buy stock of Tencent (listed in HKEX 0700),so have been keeping an eye on the firm costantly

So here we go...


To most people overseas, the most frequently used IM tools would no doubt fall into AIM,MSN,Gtalk... But in China, we have another dynamic. When we are chatting with our peer group online, Tencent QQ is the most popular choice. When I am introducing QQ to friends overseas, I would always begin with "it's a Chinese born MSN,blah blah...".

Even when I'm doing this post (at 00:11 late night in China),there are 34 Millions users online.

Now it's time you can take a try on this software as they have quietly launched an International website I’mQQ.com, which enables you to download an English version QQ and register a QQ ID. (If you are an iPhone user, you can also try QQ for iPhone too.)

In fact, Tencent has previously launched several partnership for its global strategy. In 2007, it pushed its multiplayer game with Amereca's biggest IM provider AIM. In early 2008, it invested over 11 millions USD in online game operator Outspark.

Based on its pioneership in China's IM market, Tencent has grown into one of the biggest Internet company in China and generated revenue of USD 297 million in the quarter ended on Sep 20,2008.

Soucrce :Tencent Investor Fact Sheet 2008 (Click to view)