Tencent-owned company launches Slack competitor

Authors:

folarin okunola

April 19, 2016 9:08 AM

The app also has add-ons such as giving employees the ability to mark when they are on break, hold group voice/text chats, as well as allowing companies build specific forms for things like reimbursements, vacations and stuff like that.

WeChat has been steadily growing since it was introduced as China's answer to WhatsApp

Popular Tencent-owned instant messaging platform,

The app contains a number of features that are already familiar to people that have had any experience using office chat apps (like Slack) but it also adds its own touches to differentiate itself.

Essentially, the service can serve as a replacement for group emails, and make quick chats between coworkers easier.

READ: Instant messaging platform to launch enterprise version of itself

Employees can also make calls, via the app, that are charged to their company's account (Slack, wyd?). There is also support for personal chat complete with client's emoticons and animated stickers (we know where that comes from).

QQ Tech - a website owned by WeChat's parent company, Tencent, reports that the service has been in closed beta testing since early March.

According to Tech In Asia, the WeChat Enterprise platform is currently only available in China - you need a Chinese business license to sign up - and in Chinese so if you are a small startup or not in China, you will have to hold your horses. There is no word yet on when the service will be available outside China.

The service is currently available for free via apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and OS X.

Authors:

folarin okunola