Which company launched the WeChat messaging app in 2011?

Tencent launched the WeChat messaging app in 2011.

WeChat was originally released in January 2011 under the Chinese name Weixin. Tencent developed it as a mobile messaging service, and it later expanded into voice and video calls, social feeds, payments, mini-programs, and other services. Outside mainland China, the product is commonly known by the name WeChat.

Tencent was founded in Shenzhen in 1998 by Pony Ma and several co-founders. Its earlier major product was QQ, an instant-messaging platform that helped establish the company in China’s internet industry. WeChat’s growth made Tencent a major global technology and entertainment company.

WeChat is sometimes confused with Tencent’s corporate identity: WeChat is a product, while Tencent is the parent company. Tencent’s businesses also include online games, digital content, cloud services, and stakes in other technology and entertainment companies.