WeChat Adds JD.com Shopping Channel
DoNews, 5/27/14
A portion of users upgrading to v5.3 of Tencent's (0700.HK) WeChat mobile messaging app in Beijing and Shanghai have reported the appearance of a "shopping" portal in the app's "discover" channel, listed directly alongside the app's existing "moments" and "games" portals. Access to the new "shopping" portal will reportedly be extended to all WeChat users in the future.
At present, the new "shopping" portal directs users to a sub-menu with three choices: "New Discoveries," "Brands," and "Deals" ("Ju Hui"). Previously, these three items were located in the "Specials" portion of WeChat's "My Bank Cards" channel. Merchandise displayed under each of the three categories is sourced from B2C e-commerce platform JD.com (Nasdaq: JD), JD.com's e-commerce sites Paipai and QQ Buy, and Tencent's B2C e-commerce site 51Buy (Yixun). "New Discoveries" directs users to a listing of current popular and trending products; "Brands" brings up a selection of discounted name brand products; "Deals" presents users with recommended "best value for the money" merchandise.
Editor's Note: For more background on this topic, please see "Rumor: WeChat to Add Jingdong Shopping Channel" MD 4/18/14 issue.
Keywords: m-commerce e-commerce Paipai wireless B2C Tencent 0700.HK QQ Buy WeChat 51Buy JD.com JD mobile IM C2C
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