Q+ seeks to cement Tencent position1 min read
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTENCENT, China’s largest Internet company, is adding an array of enhanced services to its core QQ instant messaging site after data showed the amount of time users spend chatting online is slipping.
Tencent unveiled its Q+ desktop software last year, offering online video streaming as well as Tenpay online payment systems and other third-party platforms to its QQ messaging product. The company is also forging partnerships with film producers and online travel agents.
Tencent is merely swimming with the tide. The rise of social networking sites and online shopping platforms such as Taobao, Dangdang and 360Buy has prompted Internet portal operators like Tencent and Sina to attract users by offering a wider range of services.
“Launching Q+ is the result of our internal evolution of the QQ product because we realize that user time spent on instant messaging has been declining over the years,” said Xiong Minghua, chief technology officer of Tencent.
