More stickers, more fun.
WeChat officially launched in Myanmar on Tuesday, becoming the latest messaging app to hit smart phones amid a buzz of activity in the sector.
Owned by China’s Tencent, WeChat has followed in the footsteps of other local messaging services by offering Myanmar-language chatting functions, locally-themed stickers and characters.
The above image is the signature character created for in-country users, Owlly.
“In Myanmar, we’re aware that there’s an increasing need for efficient communications and social interactions in people’s personal and professional lives,” said Poshu Yeung, Vice President of International Business Group at Tencent, in a statement. “We’ve watched as dropping SIM card costs have caused the number of mobile users in the country to shoot up to 18 million from around one million just three years ago.”
At the official launch, which was held at Yangon’s Sule Shangri-La hotel, Myanmar pop artist Sai Sai started things off by creating his own official celebrity account.
WeChat Regional Business Director Louis Song (on left), stands next to Sai Sai at the app’s launch in Yangon.
The app, which claims some 900 million users worldwide, lets you send messages, make voice calls as well as arrange group and video chats.
It’s a good time to be in the app biz here, but it could get a little too crowded. In addition to WeChat, there’s Viber, Btalk, Line, and MyChat.
Photos supplied
