Tencent

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Tencent (Chinese: 腾讯; pinyin: Téngxùn

) is a Chinese multinational conglomerate holding company founded in 1998, with subsidiaries in various industries, including Internet services, artificial intelligence, and technology. The company is headquartered in Shenzhen, China.

History

Tencent was founded by Ma Huateng, Zhang Zhidong, Xu Chenye, Chen Yidan, and Zeng Liqing in November 1998. The company's first product was an instant messaging service named Tencent QQ, which quickly became popular in China. Over the years, Tencent expanded its services to include social networking, web portals, e-commerce, mobile games, Internet services, payment systems, smartphones, and multiplayer online games.

Products and Services

Social Media

Tencent operates the popular social media platform WeChat, which combines messaging, social networking, and mobile payment services. WeChat has over a billion monthly active users and is one of the largest standalone messaging apps in the world.

Gaming

Tencent is a major player in the gaming industry, owning significant stakes in several prominent game developers, including Riot Games, Epic Games, and Supercell. The company also develops and publishes its own games, such as Honor of Kings and PUBG Mobile.

Financial Services

Tencent's financial services include WeChat Pay and QQ Wallet, which are widely used for online and offline transactions in China. The company also offers wealth management services through its subsidiary, Tencent Licaitong.

Cloud Computing

Tencent Cloud provides a range of cloud services, including cloud storage, cloud computing, and big data analytics. It is one of the leading cloud service providers in China, competing with Alibaba Cloud and Huawei Cloud.

Entertainment

Tencent has a significant presence in the entertainment industry, with investments in film production, music streaming, and literature. The company owns Tencent Music Entertainment, which operates popular music streaming services such as QQ Music, Kugou, and Kuwo.

Corporate Structure

Tencent is structured as a holding company with numerous subsidiaries and affiliates. The company's major business segments include social networks, online advertising, fintech, and cloud services. Tencent is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol 0700.HK.

Controversies

Tencent has faced various controversies, including issues related to data privacy, censorship, and monopoly practices. The company has been criticized for its close ties with the Chinese government and its role in implementing internet censorship in China.

See Also

• WeChat
• Tencent QQ
• Riot Games
• Epic Games
• Supercell
• Tencent Music Entertainment
• Alibaba Group
• Huawei