Tencent Weibo
Tencent Weibo is a Chinese microblogging (weibo) website launched by Tencent in April 2010, and is still currently under beta testing. Users may broadcast a message including 140 Chinese characters at most through the web, SMS or smartphone.
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Type of site | microblogging |
|---|---|
| Available in | Chinese, English |
| Owner | Tencent Holdings Ltd |
| URL | t.qq.com |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Launched | April 1, 2010 |
| Current status | Active |
| Tencent Weibo | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 腾讯微博 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 騰訊微博 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Introduction
Tencent Weibo is a social network that connects all users together. It enhances communication between friends. Users can share photos, videos and text with a 140-character limit. The reposting function of Tencent Weibo is similar to Twitter's "retweeting", which is replied in @ form. In comparison, Tencent Weibo encourages users to create new topics on their own. With the support of QQ, Tencent doesn't intend to launch Tencent Weibo at a strategic level, but as a marketing tactic to curb competitors.
Many celebrities are Tencent Weibo users, including, Ma Huateng, Zhou Hongyi, Liu Xiang and Jet Li.
Features
Initially only QQ users could register Tencent Weibo account corresponding to their own QQ number. Weibo accounts are not automatically registered for QQ users, they need to log in Tencent Weibo page for registration. Email address can be used for registration (formerly only QQ email address were supported). Posts can be shortened into an url.cn domain name. Each user can follow up to 2,000 people. Through the QQ client (Windows Simplified Chinese version of the QQ2010 Beta 3 or later version), QQ Pinyin input method, computer, smartphone (iPhone, Android OS, S60, and KJava), SMS and MMS, users can broadcast microblogging messages. In addition, photos can be inserted in all form, except SMS. Also, users can add videos (Tencent Video) and songs (QQ Music), which is currently only supported on the homepage.
| Tencent | Chinese | 立即收听 | 收听 | 听众 | 广播 | n条广播 | 转播 | 对话 | 名单 |
| Translation | Listen | Listening | Audience / Listeners | Broadcast | n broadcast | Rebroadcast | Talk | List | |
| English ver. | Follow | Following | Follower(s) | Post | n post(s) | Repost | Reply | List | |
| Follow | Following | Follower(s) | Tweet | n tweet(s) | Retweet | Reply | List | ||
History
Early in 2007, Tencent launched a microblogging-like website Taotao.com. However, due to some operating problems, on January 26, 2010, Tencent announced to shut down and merge the website into the Qzone.[1] Later in March, Qoocu.com (a blog focusing on products of Tencent) released some screenshots of the internal beta test of Tencent Weibo.[2] On April 1, Tencent began its public beta test, people with an invitation code might take part in the test. And on the same day, Tencent released its QQ2010 version Beta3, with the microblogging feature included.[3] In the second quarter of 2012 it had 469 million registered users.[4] On July 23, 2014, Tencent Inc announced that it will integrate its micro-blogging service's operation team into the company's news team, after media reported that it has dismissed its micro-blogging department and will stop upgrading its micro-blogging service.[5]
Developer platform
Tencent Weibo act as an 'open' platform for developers and users to communicate and share data widely. After signing on, developers and users can use the open API to create an application. Through the application, they can obtain information or spread new information.
Censorship
Tencent Weibo may censor discussion of public social interest activities, such as worker or people's strikes. An example was blocking discussion of Foxconn worker's strikes in October, 2012.[6]
References
- 新浪科技. "腾讯将关闭滔滔微型博客业务". Retrieved January 26, 2010.
- TechWeb. "腾讯微博内测图曝光：将与QQ无缝集成". Retrieved March 5, 2010.
- MyDrivers. "配合腾讯微博公测 QQ2010 Beta3试用版发布". Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- Steven Millward (October 22, 2012). "China's Forgotten 3rd Twitter Clone Hits 260 Million Users". techinasia.com. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
- Liang Fei (July 24, 2014). "Tencent to reduce Weibo operations". Retrieved July 24, 2014.
- James Niccolai [@jniccolai] (October 5, 2012). "Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo both blocking searches in Chinese for "Foxconn strikes", says our man in China @Michael_Kan #foxconn #strike" (Tweet) – via Twitter.