China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. CHU(sehk:0762)(and shse:600050) is going to launch an instant messaging (IM) software in August 2011, renaming Wo Friends (transliteration).

This oncoming IM software will be operated by China Unicom Broadband Limited Corporation, a subsidiary of China Unicom. This cross-operator and cross-platform IM software will be available for Internet and mobile phone users, who will not need invitation code, because the IDs will be issued automatically.

The initial business IM software supports PCs and mobile phones which are applied with systems of iOS, Android, Symbian and JAVA. Meanwhile, BlackBerry version IM software will also be launched in the near future.

For alpha test, China Unicom launched this IM software into App Store in April 2011, providing business of Weibo and Fetion and directing at cross-operator network. After that, China Unicom issued 1500 invitation codes for its personnel and some users in order to collect suggestions. Through Weibo.com, it also selected some Web users to experience this software from June 22 on.

Source:c114