Friday, July 6, 2012

100 million smartphone owners in China getting free VoIP through messaging app Weixin

[![100-million-china-smartphone-voip-Weixin][1] ][2]If you're in China and use a free chat app called Weixin on Android or iOS, you're about to get no-charge [VoIP][3] as well thanks to an imminent update. The company is set to join the likes of [Skype][4], [Viber][5] and Korea's Kakao Talk in providing free cellphone calls to the nation and ought to make a huge splash given the massive 100 million user install base. The [Tencent][6]-owned service is also adding Bluetooth support, a matching VoIP web service and a complete redesign of its site, according to _TechNode_. There's no release date yet or word on whether the English version WeChat will get it, but if so, it might make those pricey cellphone calls to friends and family overseas a lot freer.

[100 million smartphone owners in China getting free VoIP through messaging app Weixin][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][7] on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 22:27:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][8].

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[Permalink][9] ![][10][TNW][11] | ![source][12][TechNode][13] | [Email this][14] | [Comments][15]

[1]: http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/07/weixin-07-06-12-02-1341577198.jpg
[2]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/06/100-million-china-smartphone-voip-Weixin/
[3]: http://www.engadget.com/tag/voip/
[4]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/06/skype-update-for-mac-and-windows/
[5]: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/vibers-free-no-registration-3g-voip-app-officially-launches-on/
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[11]: http://thenextweb.com/asia/2012/07/06/chinese-mobile-messaging-app-weixin-to-bring-free-voice-calls-to-its-100m-users/
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[13]: http://technode.com/2012/07/06/weixin-4-2-to-come-with-video-chatting/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
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