Alipay, Wechat Limit User Access to Didi’s Micro-Software in China
Two Chinese popular mobile apps, Ant’s Alipay and Tencent’s Wechat, have suspended the light-version software of Didi Global Inc’s (DIDI.N) ride hailing services in China to new users, a source familiar with the matter said.
Didi’s main app has been removed from Tencent’s WeChat messaging service and Ant Group’s Alipay, in another blow to the Chinese ride-hailing company.
WeChat, which boasts over 1 billion users, and Alipay, which has over 900 million, are so-called super-apps. That means users can open and use other apps, like Didi, without leaving Alipay or WeChat.
The service is still available to users who have used them on the platforms before, the source, who declined to be named, said.
The light-version platforms, known as mini programmes, are smaller than common mobile apps and exist inside a super, or multifunction app, such as Alipay or Wechat.
Didi also operates a standalone app. Last week China’s cyberspace regulator ordered app stores to remove Didi’s app and Didi has stopped new user registrations after the regulator said Didi illegally collected user data.
Didi, Ant and Tencent did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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