WeChat is one of the modern tools Chinese government agencies use in order to communicate with citizens. (Photo : Reuters)
Line and Kakao may be focusing too much on their overseas markets to the detriment of their home market Japan. A new report shows that Japanese free messaging app users are starting to patronize China's WeChat more than domestic Line and Kakao.
Among the biggest six messaging apps, WeChat experienced the most significant increase in the number of users in Japan and Korea last month.
According to Mobidia, users are flocking to this China-originated app because of its gaming, e-commerce, and multimedia capabilities, which offer a more fun and interactive experience.
WeChat beat the messaging apps Line, Kakao Talk, Blackberry Messenger, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
This news is set to make WeChat's investors happy. The investors have been worried when WeChat's expansion to Western markets did not work out well. In Asia, however, their efforts just might be working.
Competition is set to become even stiffer, especially in China, Australia and Indonesia. India as well is starting to observe a surge in messaging app users.
App makers are strategizing with how to capture a larger market share through the incorporation of more attractive and interactive features such as having free cartoon stickers or the capacity of users to engage in online shopping.
As a sign of how competition is getting more rife is Samsung's decision to retire its once well-loved ChatOn app. Samsung has already decided to surrender from the game. The company announced that the app will be discontinued in all of its markets on March 31.
Facebook Messenger might follow suit, considering its usage plunged in nine out of 10 Asia-Pacific countries.
