Chinese language tech big Tencent’s WeChat messaging app has seen a surge in downloads in the US since Friday after Washington confirmed it might push forward with a deliberate ban of the app, information confirmed on Tuesday.
The US Division of Commerce issued an order requiring Apple and Alphabet’s Google to take away WeChat for downloads on nationwide safety grounds, however a US judge blocked the transfer on Sunday. The US Commerce Division stated on Monday it is going to challenge the order.
WeChat was put in about 54,000 occasions between Friday and Saturday, 28 occasions the 1,900 downloads seen in the identical two-day interval every week earlier than, in accordance with information analytics agency Sensor Tower. It stated WeCom, an workplace collaboration app, additionally noticed a soar in downloads in the US over that interval.
The US has launched a collection of measures in latest months cracking down on Chinese language tech companies and apps, citing nationwide safety grounds, because the world’s two largest economies butt heads on points starting from commerce and expertise to the dealing with of the coronavirus pandemic.
Tencent, which has denied its apps pose a nationwide safety threat, has stated updates of the app for present US customers could also be negatively affected ought to Apple and Google take away WeChat from their shops.
WeChat is an all-in-one cellular app that mixes messaging, social media, cost capabilities and different providers and boasts greater than a billion customers globally.
WeCom, which was rebranded from Tencent’s workplace collaboration app WeChat Work solely days after US President Donald Trump first stated he would ban WeChat in August, was put in 58,000 occasions in the US on Friday and Saturday, 193 occasions the 300 downloads it noticed over the identical interval every week prior, in accordance with Sensor Tower estimates.
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 pals with out their WeChat contacts having to obtain WeCom.
Tencent advised Chinese language media WeCom is a totally totally different product from WeChat.
© Thomson Reuters 2020
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