How Tencent's WeChat takes on Apple - Matthew Brennan

Matthew Brennan

Tencent's WeChat released last week to manage its successful mini-programs, moving ahead with an operating system, pushing against the already embattled competitor Apple, says Tencent watcher Matthew Brennan in CNBC.  The fight might focus on China, where mini-programs are most popular.

CNBC:

A recent update of the WeChat app from Chinese tech juggernaut Tencent could have "serious ramifications" for Apple, according to one analyst. 

The WeChat update, which came out this week, involves a redesign in the way mini-programs — apps within the app — are presented. With that change, users now "essentially have a second home screen" on their phones, said Matthew Brennan, co-founder and managing director at consultancy China Channel. 

While a change in user interface may not immediately seem like a game changer, experts said it signals a significant shift in the Chinese tech space... 

Commenting on the potential financial impact of the design change in WeChat on Apple, Brennan...generally agreed that the impact would be more long-term in nature... 

Brennan said the mini-programs on WeChat are "not designed to be very big" and are unlikely to compete against the games that feature on Apple's App Store.

More on CNBC.

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