"connect to Wi-Fi - Confused. The phone connects to WiFi, WeChat uses the phone's WiFi connection"
In some restaurants, you have to scan their printed WeChat QR code and follow their official account, before the wifi will connect. I'm not sure how it works, but I've used it a couple of times, and it was a smooth process.
"open an online store - Not done. Do you mean use the microblog function to advertise wares; that's common? various middleware linking to escro services etc?"
You can build a store as an HTML5 app, embedded within a channel. The store will get access to identity and payments via WeChat's APIs. There are also sellers that use their regular account. They publish new items in their 'Moments' feed, which anyone connected o them can browse. If you want to buy, you send them a message with your address, and send them a person-to-person payment via WeChat payments.
"WeChat has achieved a critical mass surpassing even QQ (they're made by the same company)."
I remember there being a very smooth migration process. When I started using WeChat, I was quickly able to add my existing QQ contacts. So I just stopped using QQ.
"Office circle"
Yup. I'm in a few of those informal groups with colleagues. Also there's a group for people that live in our apartment block.
"International calls - Video call a colleague in Singapore? Use WeChat and office WiFi."
Yup. If one of you is in China, then WeChat quality might be better than FaceTime.
"Stickers"
I use these pretty often. I used to think sticker were just for young people.
Comments
"connect to Wi-Fi - Confused. The phone connects to WiFi, WeChat uses the phone's WiFi connection"
In some restaurants, you have to scan their printed WeChat QR code and follow their official account, before the wifi will connect. I'm not sure how it works, but I've used it a couple of times, and it was a smooth process.
"open an online store - Not done. Do you mean use the microblog function to advertise wares; that's common? various middleware linking to escro services etc?"
You can build a store as an HTML5 app, embedded within a channel. The store will get access to identity and payments via WeChat's APIs. There are also sellers that use their regular account. They publish new items in their 'Moments' feed, which anyone connected o them can browse. If you want to buy, you send them a message with your address, and send them a person-to-person payment via WeChat payments.
"WeChat has achieved a critical mass surpassing even QQ (they're made by the same company)."
I remember there being a very smooth migration process. When I started using WeChat, I was quickly able to add my existing QQ contacts. So I just stopped using QQ.
"Office circle"
Yup. I'm in a few of those informal groups with colleagues. Also there's a group for people that live in our apartment block.
"International calls - Video call a colleague in Singapore? Use WeChat and office WiFi."
Yup. If one of you is in China, then WeChat quality might be better than FaceTime.
"Stickers"
I use these pretty often. I used to think sticker were just for young people.