Another Tencent-backed ecommerce site and Taobao competitor, JD.com, also thrives as a mini program. By contrast, the use of the mini program, a key WeChat feature launched in 2017, has given a huge edge to Pinduoduo, a latecomer to the ecommerce space that's nevertheless amassed more annual active users than Taobao. Given the long-running rivalry, Alibaba has lacked a presence on WeChat. Inconvenienced Taobao and WeChat users and businesses alike have long complained that the practices ultimately hurt the interests of both small merchants and customers. An Alibaba statement at the time claimed it blocked WeChat links in order to protect Taobao users. Tencent, the parent company of WeChat, didn't respond to Protocol's request for comment Alibaba declined to comment.Īlibaba and Tencent have an acrimonious, often petty rivalry that dates back to 2013, when WeChat saw explosive user growth and Taobao and WeChat blocked content from each other. The reason WeChat gave for the removal was ambiguous: The sales categories Taobao's mini program picked didn't match its "operational content." It's unclear whether WeChat removed Taobao's mini program or Taobao yanked the project itself. But within days, the mini program had vanished. "Taobao's 'setting up shop' on WeChat is a big deal for both platforms," one observer said. In early February, WeChat users noticed that Taobao Deals had quietly launched a mini program within WeChat and even allowed them to use WeChat to pay for goods. Prior to this week's news, Taobao Deals had made a fleeting appearance on WeChat that got the internet buzzing. In December, China's powerful State Administration for Market Regulation launched an antitrust investigation into Alibaba for monopolistic practices like prohibiting vendors from selling on other platforms. Last November, Beijing issued draft rules aimed at preventing monopolistic behavior by internet companies like Tencent and Alibaba. On Monday, Chinese ruler Xi Jinping called for enhanced oversight of the platform economy and "enriching the anti-monopoly regulatory force" at a meeting with the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission.įed up with cutthroat tactics between tech giants and their mega app ecosystems, Beijing is actively writing new rules to bring the private sector in line. The move comes as Beijing is clamping down on Big Tech with tighter antitrust regulations. The introduction of an Alibaba product into a (once hostile) WeChat ecosystem could mark the beginning of the end of China's vicious platform wars. If WeChat approves Alibaba's mini program, it will be huge news for both tech giants. A screenshot of an agreement between Taobao Deals and merchants widely circulating on the Chinese web indicates sellers would be able to accept payments via WeChat Pay. Just a little over a month after Alibaba quietly and temporarily launched within WeChat, Jack Ma's ecommerce behemoth is on the cusp of returning to China's largest social media platform.īloomberg reported on Tuesday that Alibaba's low-price platform, Taobao Deals, is planning to set up shop on WeChat in the form of a "mini program" (小程序) embedded within WeChat's ecosystem, and has already invited merchants to participate.
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