Tencent operates WeChat, the social network launched in 2011.
Tencent launched WeChat in January 2011 under the Chinese name Weixin. The mobile messaging service was developed by a team at Tencent led by Allen Zhang. It expanded beyond text messaging to include voice calls, media sharing, payments, mini programs, and other functions.
WeChat became one of Tencent’s most important products and a major part of the company’s broader internet ecosystem. In China, its services are used for communication, commerce, payments, public services, and access to lightweight applications inside the platform.
WeChat is sometimes confused with QQ, another Tencent messaging service that predates it. Tencent was founded in 1998 and is also associated with online games, digital content, advertising, cloud computing, and financial-technology services. Its market value has consequently reflected more than one single app.