China’s instant message app eyes overseas markets

Updated: 2012-10-11 13:21

By Su Zhou (China Daily)

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Momo, a location-based instant messenger app, is eyeing overseas markets by preparing on an English version. The official account of Momo Technology Ltd on Sina Weibo said the beta version will be released on Oct 12. Users can log in with their Facebook accounts and synchronize information between Chinese and English versions.

The company said the beta version cannot support group chat and Apple’s latest mobile operating system iOS 6.

Launched in August 2011, the number of Momo’s register users has surpassed 15 million. The active users per week are around 5 million. The mobile IM app with location based service connects users with those strangers around them. The feature is quite new to many overseas users.

Its major competitions WeChat of China’s Internet giant Tencent launched its English version in October 2011. In December 2011, WeChat supported users to share its QR Code to Facebook. The latest version of WeChat in April can connect contacts information on users’ Facebook account.

Even though Momo and Wechat all pay much attention on overseas markets, it is not easy for them to stand out. The competition of mobile communication market is quite fierce, such as Skype, MSN, Facebook, iMessgae, Whats App, Kik and Talkbox.

At the same time, Momo hasn’t figure out the way to make profit in the future. Now Momo has got nearly $42.5 million in two rounds of fund-raising, according to Wind Information Co Ltd, a leading integrated service provider of financial data, information, and software.

Tang Yan, founder of Momo Techonology, said Momo will not consider about making profits in the next two or three years and focus on growing the user base.

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