95% of Chinese Users Surveyed Would Rather Give Up Their iPhones Than Lose WeChat

[NewUsername]

Try surviving in China for a week without WeChat. That's a challenge, man!

Now try to convince a Chinese to buy a phone which can't run WeChat. Good luck!

 

[The Phazer]

Yup. But you didn’t know there is Android open source project and closed sources project. All the big Android players use Android closed source which is licensed by Google. It’s why they get all the cool stuff... The open source is like 70% of the features of the closed source.

No Chinese Android OEMs use the Google Play Services libraries, and never have - the Chinese government does not permit devices using those libraries to be sold in China. So there are local alternatives (a non-trivial amount of which is handled by Wechat themselves), usually handled by the larger OEMs.

There are twenty or so major Chinese app stores, and 19 of them are run by Chinese companies. Trump can't stop them. The only non-Chinese one is run by Samsung, who are Korean owned, so Trump can't do much there either (he can stop Samsung's US operations from dealing with Tencent, but not their Korean ones, because the US arm is owned by the Korean company, not the other way around as it is with Apple).

 

[neuropsychguy]

It doesn't matter where your headquarters is located. If Apple intents to sell phones in US, US division have to abide by US laws. Just like any US companies that operate in Canada, Canadian division have to abide by Canadian laws.

You can't just say we are based in Switzerland therefore screw US laws

You’re halfway correct. It matters where Apple is headquartered. If they were based in Switzerland, this action by the Trump administration would only have effect for the U.S. operations of Apple and Apple could still include WeChat and TikTok in China (although, the administration could likely put pressure on the company by restricting their ability to do business in the United States unless they complied with the order; this is because Apple would then be importing products as a non-U.S. company).

Because Apple is U.S.-based, they have to follow U.S. laws broadly, which could result in worldwide removal of the apps.

This ban is not going to happen though.

 

[burgerrecords]

Major phone companies are using and licensing the closed source android OS

That’s true if you don’t consider huawei a “major phone company.”

 

[rjp1]

Looks like alot of people will be forming themselves into obtaining an Android devices.

Most of them are probably using a knockoff iPhone that is really a skinned version of Android 😂

 

[JPack]

Yup. But you didn’t know there is Android open source project and closed sources project. All the big Android players use Android closed source which is licensed by Google. It’s why they get all the cool stuff... The open source is like 70% of the features of the closed source.

Those closed source parts are all Google apps or services. Continue Googling and come back to converse once you're actually familiar with the subject.

 

[charlesdayton]

Android officially allows sideloading of apps. As a result, nearly any app can be installed whether or not it's in the Google Play Store.

Apple does not officially allow it.

one issue is the average user won’t be side loading apps. They will just search the Play Store and not find WeChat.

Or worst search online and sideload malware passing for the actual WeChat.

Epic tried to host Formite outside the Play store ant at the end had togive up and have it available I’m the play store.

 

[Jyby]

Science Rules!

 

[JPack]

There are two Android products closed and open source. Major phone companies are using and licensing the closed source android OS...Android OS has two branches. It’s not 100% open source because there is a closed source branch that is licensed all most of the major phone makers

Why are you trying to go into the weeds with your argument?

You claimed, "Google could pull the plug on those Chinese companies for Android."

That simply isn't the case. Google couldn't and it wouldn't stop WeChat.

 

[iReality85]

I think you are seriously underestimating how integral that app is in China. It’s basically the messaging app that everyone uses, it’s a social media platform, does mobile payments, and probably more.

You literally just described iOS. Or Android.

People are talking in circles. China likes having one app for everything. Okay, that's fine. Outside of China, we like having operating systems where we can choose the apps we want, that work best for any particular situation.

 

[bsolar]

Who said it applies in China? It bans US companies from doing business with Tencent and ByteDance.

Banning US companies from doing business with Tencent in general and not only limited to WeChat would have a much broader impact. Tencent is:

• Owner of Riot Games (Valorant, League of Legends).
• Shareholder of Epic Games (Fortnite).
• Shareholder of Activision Blizzard (Call of Duty, Diablo, Warcraft, Overwatch...).
• Shareholder of Spotify.

I'm sure there is more.

 

[burgerrecords]

It’s not just that- they lost contact with Google and the AOSP is not the same as the closed source project. Plus they dont get all the new Android stuff unless Google decides to open source those features.

It breaks down pretty simple. For Chinese folks:

Open source android + wechat > any closed source android or iPhone without wechat.

Add huawei to the equation and you have a likely perfectly sufficient alternative to US control from now and in perpetuity.

 

[maxsquared]

The thing is, how many people use WeChat outside of China? And how is that threat to 'national security'?

 

[JPack]

one issue is the average user won’t be side loading apps. They will just search the Play Store and not find WeChat.

Or worst search online and sideload malware passing for the actual WeChat.

Epic tried to host Formite outside the Play store ant at the end had togive up and have it available I’m the play store.

The average user in China doesn't use the Play Store. They download apps from the device manufacturer's app store - whether that's Oppo, Vivo, or Huawei App Gallery.

Outside China, consumers can go to wechat.com and sideload the app.

 

[JPack]

People are talking in circles. China likes having one app for everything. Okay, that's fine. Outside of China, we like having operating systems where we can choose the apps we want, that work best for any particular situation.

WeChat itself is like an operating system.

There are over 1 million mini-apps within WeChat. Everyone from McDonald's to Tesla has a mini-app in WeChat.

 

[wood1208]

India totally ban Chinese Apps from operating in India. Best Trump can do is ban so called Chinese Apps from operating in USA and firewall USA users to access from inside USA. After that, European will follow and than rest of world.
So, it basically Chinese apps on IOS or Android operating within China for Chinese users. Long as they don't steal rest of world's data and misuse it; who cares what happens inside China,stays inside China.

 

[Wildkraut]

Maybe this wakes up the rest of world, so they strive to become more independent from USA.
It’s about time...

 

[ilikewhey]

Trump is so anti competitive- he does realize the US still dominates China in terms of intellectual property?

Simple example for perspective on it: Windows, Mac OS, Android and iOS are on 99% of all consumer computers and phones. Apple, Google, Microsoft, AMD, Intel, Nvidia and Qualcomm are all American companies... What does China have? Besides a few semiconductor suppliers and manufacturers.. Nothing!

So to have a petty fight over an App is ridiculous.. We’re talking about TikTok which I’m pretty sure doesn’t have ads or a way to make revenue and WeChat which isn’t making a ton of cash compared to all the major companies in the US.. So what’s the point? Why not target something a little more painful directly at China then Apps both Chinese and Americans consumers use?

because all of this effort from trump is farce, election is coming up and he needs to look like hes tough on china to get his constituents confidence.

 

[Morgenland]

'Make America great again.'
By trying to ruin Apple. Such complex divine logic we cannot understand.
The Chinese Communist Party could not harm America more effectively.

Well, it'll be over soon.

 

[richard371]

You and me both.

All I’m going to say is that I can’t wait until January 20th at noon.

 

[GrumpyCoder]

And how is that threat to 'national security'?

Because the monkey in the White House says so... I’ve asked multiple times in other threads and no one was able to provide forensic evidence. The reality is, it isn’t. They collect data, similar to what Facebook, Google and others do. I’ve posted in another thread what data TikTok is collecting. Difference is, no access for the US and that’s why they want it gone. And after all, it’s China, so it must be evil...

 

[joeblow7777]

You literally just described iOS. Or Android.

People are talking in circles. China likes having one app for everything. Okay, that's fine. Outside of China, we like having operating systems where we can choose the apps we want, that work best for any particular situation.

Yes, that’s kind of my point. People here are thinking of WeChat as just another app. It’s more like a whole platform. Most of us in North America don’t casually switch between iOS and Android after being invested in one for several years, and in this case it would be even more inconvenient because from what I understand pretty much every smartphone user in China uses WeChat and many of their mobile services are based around it. There is no other app that can substitute for that.

 

[Jyby]

Those closed source parts are all Google apps or services. Continue Googling and come back to converse once you're actually familiar with the subject.

It’s not just those comment

No Chinese Android OEMs use the Google Play Services libraries, and never have - the Chinese government does not permit devices using those libraries to be sold in China. So there are local alternatives (a non-trivial amount of which is handled by Wechat themselves), usually handled by the larger OEMs.

There are twenty or so major Chinese app stores, and 19 of them are run by Chinese companies. Trump can't stop them. The only non-Chinese one is run by Samsung, who are Korean owned, so Trump can't do much there either (he can stop Samsung's US operations from dealing with Tencent, but not their Korean ones, because the US arm is owned by the Korean company, not the other way around as it is with Apple).

Yeah but we’re talking about international sales of Android phones. Not what’s inside China... If Google wants to not longer vend and support their open source initiative they are free to do that... Pretty sure lots of ve

It breaks down pretty simple. For Chinese folks:

Open source android + wechat > any closed source android or iPhone without wechat.

Add huawei to the equation and you have a likely perfectly sufficient alternative to US control from now and in perpetuity.

Yeah but then because of the lag time Huawei needed to replace the closed source code they have to compete with Samsung which does have WeChat. So they are significantly disadvantaged now

 

[maxsquared]

Because the monkey in the White House says so... I’ve asked multiple times in other threads and no one was able to provide forensic evidence. The reality is, it isn’t. They collect data, similar to what Facebook, Google and others do. I’ve posted in another thread what data TikTok is collecting. Difference is, no access for the US and that’s why they want it gone. And after all, it’s China, so it must be evil...

This could be hurting Apple, also, if WeChat is not banned this round, for the future, it will give Chinese government ideas on how to bring down Apple or any western technology companies.

 

[Morgenland]

Maybe this wakes up the rest of world, so they strive to become more independent from USA.
It’s about time...

Nope. That wouldn't be very good. Imagine that China will now actually develop its own OS. Of course they can. And Windows dies and macOS loses as well. That would hardly be a step into a better world.
But I agree with you. The current political stupidities accelerate such developments massively.