If you’re a WeChat (Weixin in China) user, you no doubt already know that it includes built-in calling functionality, but that hasn’t stopped Tencent, the company behind WeChat, from releasing a couple of standalone VoIP apps for its users.
One, called Dianhua, is for users in China, while Lighttalk focuses on the international community, one that WeChat has been anxious to break into. The app is already one of the top messaging apps in the world with nearly 470 million active users.
With the new VoIP apps, which include HD free calling as well as address book functionality and free voicemail, Tencent is essentially battling with carriers in the region for customers.
Users of Dianhua, which also includes group messaging, will need a WeChat account. Once they’ve logged in, they’ll notice their profile picture has been imported from the app. Lighttalk, on the other hand, does not require a WeChat account, though it does offer QQ contact list importing for those who use it. For the vast majority of WeChat users outside China, though, it probably means another VoIP app might be more fitting for maintaining your contacts, particularly with so many users on Skype and Viber.
Still, if you’re looking for something different to try, you may want to give these two apps a spin.
Thanks Miu for the tip!