Hangzhou-based e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba Group recently released a new mobile messaging client application called "Zhang Shang Wangxin." The application is currently available in iPhone and Android versions, with work underway on clients for other platforms. Users of the messaging service will be able to log in using their existing Taobao accounts, and to connect with users of Alibaba's Alitalk IM platform by sending Alitalk messages or importing Alitalk contacts. The software also supports mobile social functionality and LBS features, similar to Tencent's (0700.HK) WeChat (formerly Weixin) application. Zhang Shang Wangxin supports voice, text, emoji, and image messaging, and allows group chat.

There are more than 300 mln registered Alitalk accounts at present.