WeChat increases lifestyle features

Tencent Holdings Ltd, China's largest Internet company by market capitalization, has stepped up moves to build its

popular WeChat messaging application into a multifunctional platform providing various lifestyle services.

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By officially launching the latest version of WeChat on Friday, Tencent strengthened its efforts to improve the app's functions as a smart service provider.

The latest WeChat 5.21 version allows users to add nearby restaurants and their locations when posting updates to friends. By clicking on the location, users can see which of his or her friends have visited the location and their comments on the business.

Through aggressively investing in vertical category leaders such as Dianping.com, a group-buying and restaurant review site, and JD.com, a leading e-commerce company, as well as integrating their services into the WeChat platform, Tencent aims to build a diversified ecosystem that is dedicated to providing local lifestyle services.

When announcing Tencent's 2013 financial result last week, CEO Pony Ma said Tencent has been enhancing the WeChat app from a communications tool to a multifunctional platform, through initiatives such as smartphone games, group accounts and integrated payment functions.

"We will further expand our mobile leadership via apps distribution and online-to-offline services; invest in long-term opportunities such as online video, online payment and WeChat international expansion; and deepen our integration with key strategic partners," Ma said.