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China's Tencent raises $600m from notes offering

Tech In Asia :: China’s biggest web company by revenue, Tencent, has today set a price of $600 million, and a rate of 3.375 percent, on a senior unsecured notes offering. This will raise $594 million for the social media and gaming company.

A report by Steven Millward, www.techinasia.com

Tencent's WeChat app pushes into social media marketing via QR codes

Tech In Asia :: The world’s biggest group messaging app, Tencent’s WeChat – or “Weixin” as it’s called in Chinese – is taking an interesting turn in China. It is now also a platform for social media marketing, allowing blogs, newspapers, TV shows, brands, and celebrities to reach out directly to the app’s 100+ million users.

A report by Steven Millward, www.techinasia.com

Tencent, China: Revenues up 56pc, mobile growth only modest

Tech in Asia :: China’s biggest tech company in terms of revenue, Tencent, has just revealed its 2012 Q2 and half-year financial results. The stats show the company – which has stakes in gaming, social media, e-commerce, and more – growing yet further.

A report by Steven Millward, www.techinasia.com

China's Tencent sees market cap hit $66b, passes Facebook

Tech In Asia :: Mark your calendars: China’s social media giant has surpassed America’s leader in terms of the total value of their shares. Yes, Tencent’s market cap is greater than Facebook’s right now, with Tencent’s market capitalization currently at HK$419.84 billion – that’s US$66.6 billion – compared to Facebook’s $62.24 billion.

A report by Steven Millward, www.techinasia.com

Tencent's group messaging app WeChat talks its way into India

Tech In Asia :: As if 100 million users isn’t enough for the world’s biggest group messaging app, now Tencent is pushing its WeChat into India thanks to a promotional deal with Indian gaming site Ibibo. Tencent actually owns a 20 percent stake in Ibibo, so the choice of partner isn’t really a surprise.

Continue to read Steven Millward, www.techinasia.com

Tencent to restructure business

Wall Street Journal :: Tencent Holdings Ltd. said Friday it will restructure its business operations into six groups and named a new chief operating officer as the Chinese Internet company moves to improve efficiency and grow beyond its core gaming business.

Continue to read [exclusive subscriber content] - Paul Mozur, online.wsj.com

Wireless home audio systems manufacturer Sonos to stream Tencent's QQ Music in China

Los Angeles Times :: How do small American companies make inroads in China? The trick may lie in finding mutually beneficial partnerships with local companies. Sonos, a Santa Barbara company that makes wireless home audio systems, on Monday announced a deal with Tencent Holdings, a Chinese company whose QQ instant messaging platform is used by 721 million people.

Continue to read latimesblogs.latimes.com

Guanxi: The web is transforming personal connections in China

AdAge :: The internet has transformed China's closed inner circle of personal connections, referred to as guanxi, into a more open chain of relationships, said social-media giant S Y Lau of Tencent. Speaking at Ad Age's Digital Conference on Tuesday, Mr. Lau described the opportunities for marketers that understand the values of Chinese consumers -- from lack of brand loyalty to a hunger for respect.

Continue to read Laurel Wentz, adage.com

Baidu now has an Instagram of its own, ready for its close-up

Tech In Asia :: Chinese search engine Baidu acquired the photo-sharing app PhotoSola last November – and now, finally, the Instagram-like app has been rebranded and reborn as Baidu MoTu. The newly launched app creates a mini social network around its photo app, with tweaked and filtered images sharable to Sina Weibo, Tencent Weibo, Facebook, or Twitter.

Continue to read Steven Millward, www.techinasia.com

China's major microblogs suspend comment function to 'clean up rumors'

People's Daily :: Two major Chinese microblogging sites, weibo.com and t.qq.com, have suspended comment functions after they were punished for allowing rumors to spread. The t.qq.com, run by Tencent, put up an online announcement Saturday morning that it has decided to suspend comment function from March 31 to April 3 to clean up rumors and other illegal information spread through microbloggings.

Hat tip: Russell Flannery, Forbes

Continue to read 张茜, english.peopledaily.com.cn