Tencent enjoys competition amid co-op in 'shared future'
- By Chen Boyuan
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China Daily, December 18, 2015
|
|
|
Ma Huateng (Pony), chairman of Tencent, listens to reporters' questions at a joint press conference on Dec. 17, 2015 during the second World Internet Conference (WIC) held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province. [Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn] |
Tencent, the leading Chinese Internet company whose messenger programs such as QQ and WeChat have taken hold on countless computers and mobile phones devices, and expressed confidence in maintaining a harmonious relationship with major rivals in building "a community of shared future," the theme of the second World Internet Conference (WIC).
Tencent's founder and chairman Ma Huateng (Pony), said on Thursday during the WIC held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province, that competition between rivals, such as Baidu and Alibaba, was "comparatively healthy" within the legal framework.
Although competitive, Tencent and its rivals are under the same roof in terms of information security and the industrial division, said Ma. "The country's relaxation of the family planning policy is also a positive message. It helps China to maintain the demographic dividend, which benefits all Internet companies," he added.
While the WIC Wuzhen Summit advocates "an interconnected world shared and governed by all," the current Chinese Internet economy is characterized more by joint governance than by sharing. WeChat bars its users from opening links on Taobao, Alibaba's online mall, and has already banned Didi Taxi from giving away "lucky money," the electronic cash coupon in WeChat Moments.
Ma clarified that it was a common misconception because it was Taobao that blocked WeChat first. "Users cannot click open Taobao links in WeChat. But we offered an option in WeChat that allows users to open them with a browser," said Ma. "If Taobao would unblock us, we will certainly remove our restrictions.There's no problem."
Ma said that blocking "lucky money" in Moments did not specially target Didi Taxi but all such activities since it would easily lead to companies' over-marketing in doing so, and that Tencent did it only to ensure users' experience.
"Users tend to publish excessive lucky money coupons in their Moments, which could go viral. Others may find it disturbing to see their Moments replete with ad-embedded coupons. It is a bad experience. However, we won't interfere if users share them with their friends on an individual basis or in their chat groups," said Ma.
As to its own billion-yuan-scale "lucky money" coupons, which caused a big sensation during last year's Spring Festival Gala on Central Chinese Television, Ma confirmed that Tencent would not continue with the practice, simply because it lost the bid to a major, undisclosed rival.
"We lost because the rival was very determined to outbid. However, we will try novel things so that you will continue to enjoy the gala while getting all the benefits from Tencent's online promotion," said Ma.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)