Chinese language tech large Tencent has modified the identify of its WeChat Work workplace collaboration app to WeCom, setting it up as a possible different to its messaging app WeChat forward of a US ban.
Tencent, registered the WeCom trademark on August 19, in accordance with the USA Patent and Trademark Workplace.
Two Tencent sources mentioned WeCom doesn’t fall below the scope of a ban on WeChat-related transactions in the United States from September 20, considered one of a sequence of US measures cracking down on Chinese language tech companies and apps that Washington says are threats to nationwide safety.
Tencent declined to remark.
WeChat is an all-in-one cell app that mixes messaging, social media, fee capabilities and different providers. Its so-called tremendous app is all however important for each day life in China and boasts greater than a billion customers.
In the USA, WeChat is extensively utilized by Chinese language expats and others to speak with associates and associates in China. It has a median of 19 million each day lively customers in the USA, in accordance with analytics agency Apptopia.
After downloading WeCom, customers can now hyperlink their WeChat account to it and add their WeChat contacts, a Reuters take a look at confirmed. WeCom customers can then message, create discussion groups, and even obtain digital cash from WeChat associates with out their WeChat contacts having to obtain WeCom.
There was no indication that Tencent has actively promoted WeCom in the USA. There has additionally been no surge in downloads of WeCom in latest weeks, in accordance with Sensor Tower.
WeCom workaround
US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is about to launch laws by Sunday clarifying which WeChat transactions shall be prohibited below President Donald Trump’s executive order.
On Thursday, the US Justice Division mentioned Ross didn’t plan to focus on individuals or teams who solely obtain or use WeChat to convey private or enterprise data.
Tencent employees in the USA have traditionally used WeChat Work to speak with the corporate’s headquarters in Shenzhen. Tencent has at the very least 250 US-based staff.
Trump’s August 6 announcement of the ban on transactions associated to WeChat prompted a spike in downloads of WeChat and different apps by US residents. A bunch of WeChat customers has additionally sued to block the ban.
The WeCom cell app has been gaining recognition in China, the place downloads within the first a part of September rose 74 p.c from about 690,000 through the first 16 days of August. Downloads have been 158 p.c larger than the identical interval a yr in the past.
However the app has gained little traction in the USA. New US installs up to now in September stand at about 3,000, unchanged from the identical interval in August and up from 1,000 through the first a part of September final yr.
Nina Wei, a Chinese language entrepreneur in Seattle, mentioned she used WeCom largely to attach with enterprise contacts in China however hadn’t used it a lot not too long ago as various tasks had fallen aside amid deteriorating Sino-US relations.
She was unaware that WeCom was a possible workaround.
“I have not related my WeCom to my WeChat but as I hoped to maintain my work life and personal life separate.”
© Thomson Reuters 2020
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