• Internet Retailer, Tuesday, September 2, 2014 11:01 AM

Weixin—or WeChat as it’s called outside of China—is one of the most widely used mobile messaging apps in the world, with 438 million monthly active users, according to Tencent, the Chinese Internet giant that developed it and other popular online messaging and gaming services. And e-commerce is becoming a bigger part of the Weixin service. In May, Tencent began allowing Chinese e-retailer JD.com and others to sell directly to consumers through Weixin. Among the foreign companies using the service isItalian apparel e-retailer Yoox Group S.p.A. And Chinese computer maker Lenovo Group Ltd. reported this week on how it is using the messaging app as a way to promote sales, serve customers and drive traffic to Lenovo-branded bricks-and-mortar stores, 90% of which are owned by franchisees.

Read the whole story at Internet Retailer »