Wechat, Weibo Poses a Challenge to SMS

　　As more people like to communicate using WeChat or Weibo, analysts² and insiders are offering their respective opinions on how traditional telecommunications companies can cope with intense competition.

 

　　CRI's Xu Fei has more.

 

　　Tencent's Wechat has become a major tool for instant communication.

 

　　Statistics show that the number of WeChat users has already exceeded 300 million.

 

　　But according to analyst¹ Lu Jingyu, who works for i-Research Consulting Group, a leading company focusing on in-depth research related to China's internet industry, SMS messages will not be quickly replaced by Over-The-Top services such as Wechat or Weibo private messaging.

 

　　"The short messaging service will not disappear in the short term since a large amount of the population is still using it. But in the future, along with the number of rising smartphone users and the development of mobile Internet, I think more and more people will switch to this Over-The-Top service.

 

　　.

 

　　An Over-The-Top or OTT application is any app or service that provides a product over the Internet and bypasses traditional distribution networks.

 

　　As such OTT services become available, Lu Jingyu proposes two ways by which telecommunications companies can tackle the present challenge.

 

　　The telecommunications companies may try to invent a competitive instant messaging service of their own. The other way is to cooperate with OTT service providers. But the disadvantage in the first solution lies in the fact that the telecom companies are unfamiliar³ with making Internet-related products; so their products might not give the users the same comfortable experiences when it's put to use. "

 

　　In fact, the popular messaging App -- WeChat is not just conquering user but turning rivals into partners.

 

　　China Unicom in Guangdong province and WeChat's owner Tencent are introducing the first joint⁴ SIM card.

 

　　Users can enjoy both WeChat's new services and discounts from China Unicom.

 

　　A marketing⁵ manager with China Mobile Guangxi Branch surnamed Su explains his thinking on the ways in which his company can cope with the challenges it now faces.

 

　　"The telecommunications companies should explore a specialized⁶ and profitable corner of the market to attract customers. This way, the telecommunications companies can cope with the challenges posed by the new WeChat and Weibo private messaging systems. Business innovation is the direction that the three telecom giants should work towards. Innovative⁷ development can increase their value."

 

　　For CRI, I'm Xu Fei.

1 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 unfamiliar   

adj.陌生的，不熟悉的

参考例句：

• I am unfamiliar with the place and the people here.我在这儿人地生疏。
• The man seemed unfamiliar to me.这人很面生。

4 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

5 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

6 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

7 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。