Fred Wilson talked about the concept of the app constellation that he distilled down to:
mobile apps that share a single login and have app to app linking built in
He also added the proviso that ignored gaming apps, which generally purely use integration for identity and payment.
As Wilson points out this level of integration is interesting as one could find a complete suite of apps from the one company and rarely leave that app constellation. This is partly been driven by context:
Putting a lot of features in a mobile application inevitably means burying them resulting in lots of clicks to get at something that you want. So on the design level it is very reminiscent of the design focus that drove the first generation of focused lean web 2.0 applications – though on a philosophical level they are world’s apart since the app constellation are about creating a walled garden rather than open transportable data sets (within a walled garden of the mobile operating system).
The idea isn’t necessarily one that’s new. If one looks at someone like Google, this is the very rationale why they built Android – so that there were no blockages to providing it’s services. Microsoft exercised control over the majority of desktop users and could make Google’s life difficult, especially through Internet Explorer, by comparison smartphones were a relatively open space to grow in. The roles are now reversed in mobile, so Microsoft has had to play catch up with its app constellation.
I have attempted to compile a list of some of the the major companies with an app constellation. This has taken more time than I would like as I have had to hand code the tables below in order to get the HTML to work properly. Thankfully not having games in the definition of an app constellation made the work a little easier. For instance, Kakao Corp. is responsible for 9 out of the 10 best-selling mobile games in Korea at the moment and keeps churning out new games on a regular basis.
Secondly some of the companies here have more than one app constellation cluster, Tencent’s broadly break down into two clusters; those dominated by QQ and those dominated by WeChat, however there is also a connection between QQ and WeChat. This maybe partly down to the different development centres in China that they both come out of.
Microsoft and Google both have consumer, enterprise user and enterprise administrator app constellation clusters.
Daum is a Korean Internet company famous for its mobile search, news portal and social properties. No self-respecting Korean pop group used to be able to do without a well looked after Daum Cafe account. As I was part way through this Daum has announced that it is merging with Kakao Corp. We can expect them to merge the Daum app constellation into the Kakao business. Kakao generally has a better mobile experience.
| Name |
English equivalent |
What it does |
| 다음, 뉴스, 브라우저, 프로야구 |
Daum: news, browser, KBO (Korean professional baseball) |
It’s a mobile portal of content |
|
mypeople |
OTT messenger application that also includes stickers, VoIP and video calls; with support for a number of international languages. It can utilise a common Daum log-in |
| 다음 지도, 길찾기, 지하철, 버스 |
Daum Maps, Directions, Subway and Bus |
A local version of the kind of application Google Maps provides tightly focused on the needs of Korean consumers |
| 다음 사전 |
Daum Dictionary |
Kind of similar to Google Translate and Google Lens. Daum Dictionary allows you to ‘read’ a foreign language using your phones camera, it has a number of translation dictionaries. In addition, it has a flash card function to help Koreans increase their foreign language vocabulary |
| 다음 카페 |
Daum Cafe |
Daum Cafe is a social network with a customisable profile page, a news stream type function called My Cafe, posts and comments – think your Facebook wall or Tumblr account, stickers, a mobile editor and push notifications |
| 다음 클라우드 |
Daum Cloud |
Daum Cloud is similar in functionality to Dropbox and Carousel in terms of being cloud file storage and a way of sharing photos and files. Daum calls out that these can be shared across it’s mypeople social platform, Facebook and Twitter |
| 다음 웹툰 |
Daum Webtoon (literally the name would be Daum Pick) |
Korea like Japan has a comic book culture. The most famous of these is probably Priest which was adapted for film and started Paul Bettany and Maggie Q. The country consumes web comics and Daum Webtoon mobilises that experience. Fans comment on strips, share strips amongst themselves via Daum Webtoon. A western equivalent might be comiXology (a recent Amazon acquisition); but that lacks the social aspects of Webtoon |
|
mysticker for mypeople |
Augment photos with various avatar decorations like glasses or facial hair and use these pictures as stickers in OTT messenger app mypeople |
|
SolGroup |
SolGroup is a private discussion group for up to 100 members. It allows you to share photos and links as well as doing a broadcast-style notice to group members |
| 해피맘-육아맘 필수앱 (이웃맘 추천, 임신/출산 정보) |
Happy Mom |
A neighbourhood social network for Mums and Mums-to be. It’s a location-based network that tries to plug women into real-world networks, provide an online support network which can be a source of advice and provide local information. In Seoul there seems to be a consult your GP function. All up this seems to be a much more sophisticated version of Mumsnet |
| 다음 루리웹 블러드 브라더스 공식 커뮤니티 |
Daum BloodBrothers Community |
An application that provides a community for players of Mobage’s BloodBrothers game |
|
WITH |
A Flickr or 500px-type application that allows photographs to be organised into albums and easily explored |
| 다음 TV 플레이 |
Daum TV Play |
Allows a smartphone to be used as a remote control where the smart TV has a Daum TV application |
| 다음소셜쇼핑 – 소셜커머스 모음 |
Daum Social Shopping – social commerce collection |
The application features group shopping deals and coupons from a range of players including GroupOn. It also has an Apple Passbook-type function to organise any tickets required to redeem an offer |
| 캠프 |
Camp |
Location-based mobile social network that looks to be around organising group activities; kind of similar in some respects to Foursquare’s Swarm |
| 마이원 모바일 월렛 |
My One Mobile Wallet |
Mobile wallet application that also has some loyalty / rewards programme functionality built-in |
| 마이원 모바일 월렛 |
Daum Kids |
Education app aimed at pre-schoolers, it covers much of the educational ground that Sesame Street may cover in other countries |
|
Kardin |
A social business card application. It is a cross between LinkedIn’s CardMunch, Plaxo and LinkedIn |
Dropbox
Dropbox has a small app constellation, but I suspect that it will consolidate over time as it focuses on its core business of cloud storage.
| Product name |
What it does |
| Dropbox |
Cloud storage |
| Carousel |
Carousel is designed as a single home for all your photos and videos, automatically organized and always with you. It allows for the sharing photos and videos instantly in private conversations. It provides an automatic back up of photos and videos to Dropbox as they are taken. |
| Mailbox |
Alternative mail application specially for iCloud and Gmail users. It offers a simplified user interface and deep app linking across Dropbox products (preventing an OS-level poaching of that functionality) |
Facebook – social behemoth has a number of applications out there, half due to acquisitions the company has made. It’s app constellation flexes as Facebook launches and kills new services.
| Product name |
What it does |
| Facebook |
Replicates much of the desktop experience of using Facebook in a mobile application |
| Messenger |
An OTT messenger that seems to be playing feature catch-up with many of the bigger players. Currently allows groups, video sharing and picture sharing. There are some stickers available and a free VoIP facility |
| Facebook Page Manager |
Mobile application for page admins to manage multiple pages easily from their own phone, even provides a view of Facebook Insights |
| Instagram |
Mobile photo application with built-in filters |
| Whatsapp Messenger |
Popular, relatively unsophisticated OTT messaging application acquired earlier this year |
Google
Google’s vast field of diverse apps are bound together by the Google ID, resulting in a large app constellation.
| Product name |
What it does |
| YouTube |
Native application video player |
| Google |
Native mobile application version of the Google search page, the key difference being the support of voice-enabled search |
| Google Maps |
Native application version of Google’s mapping service. It has voice turn-by-turn directions. It covers 220 countries and the public transport networks of over 15,000 towns and cities |
| Google Earth |
Explore the world virtually, hard to really describe Google Earth – I thought it was telling that it sits in Apple’s travel rather than navigation section |
| Google Chrome |
Alternative web browser, integration with desktop usage of Chrome browser and a reaction to non-Google search deals |
| Gmail |
Dedicated email client for the Gmail email service |
| Google Translate |
Native application interface for Google’s web translation web service |
| Google+ |
Native application that provides a simplified interface for the Google+ social network, some elements like Hangouts have been broken out into a dedicated application |
| Google Drive |
Native application that positions Google Drive as more of a cloud storage service than the productivity suite viewpoint that it provides in the desktop experience |
| YouTube Capture |
Shoot and upload video directly to a YouTube account |
| Hangouts |
A me-too OTT messenger with more of a video focus than other players |
| Chromecast |
Application to set up and change administrator-level settings for the Chromecast streaming video dongle |
| Google Docs |
Standalone of the Google Docs word processor experience which is integrated into the desktop version of Google Drive |
| Google Sheets |
Standalone of the Google Docs spreadsheet experience which is integrated into the desktop version of Google Drive |
| Blogger |
Native application to manage a Blogspot blog including creating and posting content |
| Google Play Books |
Google’s answer to Amazon’s Kindle app and Apple’s iBooks |
| Google Authenticator |
A RSA key-type second factor authentication for Google accounts. It has easy set-up with a QRcode and support for multiple accounts |
| Google Play Music |
A mix between the Apple iTunes music player app and Spotify based on Google’s Play content marketplace |
| Google Play Movies & TV |
Native application video player and marketplace for Google Play |
| Google Currents |
Flipboard-esque reader with a focus on mainstream media like The Huffington Post |
| Photowall for Chromecast |
Photowall for Chromecast is an application that lets people take pictures, edit them and collaborate with images on the TV – using phones or tablets. Anyone can take a picture and send it to a Photowall to instantly see it on the big screen.Once the collage is finished a YouTube video of your Photowall is automatically generated |
| Field Trip |
The bastard child of vintage Microsoft Office’s Clippy and a travel guide that surfaces information kind of similar to Foursquare’s exploration function. It will even use voice to deliver it’s random flag ups of interesting things near by. It is also notable for its use of skeuomorphic design in a Google product |
| Google Adsense |
Access to reports and key data from a Google advertising account over a mobile phone |
| Zagat |
Restaurant guide that Google acquired a number of years ago. In many respects Yelp before the internet. Now as a native mobile application |
| Google Admin |
Native mobile application providing an interface for sysadmins to manage enterprise usage of Google products – setting new email accounts up, shutting them down etc. |
| Google Coordinate |
Mobile application of a workforce management tool attached to Google enterprise account – ideal if you had a firm of plumbers, roofing contractors etc. |
| Helpouts |
Native application to get live video advice on a given subject matter. |
Kakao Corp. is an OTT messaging application that has a higher user base than Facebook in Korea. It has a lot of hallyu content on there, stickers, in application payments and paid for enterprise accounts as part of the app constellation. Tencent, makers of WeChat have a stake in Kakao.
| Name |
English equivalent |
What it does |
|
KakaoTalk messenger |
An OTT messenger with text, stickers, VoIP and a pitch shifter to make your voice sound cuter or play around with friends |
|
KakaoStory |
A photo social network that is complementary to KakaoTalk. Think the moments function in WeChat or status updates on Facebook |
|
KakaoGroup |
Extends beyond the chat room environment of KakaoTalk to private private group chat as a separate application |
| 카카오아지트 |
KakaoAgit (a better translation might be KakaoHideout) |
Private group discussion and collaboration – sharing ideas or organising an event. Kakao Corp. promotes this particularly to self-organising groups of colleagues in a workplace |
| 카카오 아지트 파트너 앱 |
Agit Partner |
Seems to be a group administrator tool of some sort |
|
KakaoPlace |
Very similar to the recommendations functionality of Foursquare and the old Dopplr application |
LINE (Naver Japan) – the Japanese subsidiary of Korean online media business Naver Corp. has a range of international and localised products for the Japanese marketplace as a distinct app constellation.
| Name |
English equivalent |
What it does |
|
LINE Messenger |
An OTT messaging application that has made a good business out of virtual stickers, popular throughout much of Asia from Taiwan to Thailand. It has been fighting a pitched battle for marketshare with WhatsAppk, WeChat, and KakaoTalk |
|
LINE camera |
A photo app that integrates with LINE Messenger. It allows filters and affects to be used on pictures including a beauty filter effect. There are over 1,000 stamp effects that allow you to frame your picture, photo editing including a lasso-type function |
|
LINE Brush and Brush lite |
An application similar to MacPaint of old but in a mobile device |
|
LINE PLAY |
A social network that allows the user to build an avatar as an alter ego with the emphasis on cute and chat with other users |
|
LINE Card |
Personalised e-card creator |
|
pick |
A photography based social network similar to the social aspects of flickr |
|
LINE Tools |
A mix of productivity features: conversation tables, flash light, sound meter and calculator |
|
Ndrive |
Cloud storage similar to Dropbox |
|
Naver Translate |
Translation software focused on Japanese speakers in partnership with Japanese dictionary publisher Kodensha |
|
Naver Matome Reader |
Mobile magazine type application similar to the likes of Flipboard. Not quite a newsreader |
| 無料 マンガ |
Webtoons |
Mobile comic reader rather like Daum’s Webtoon application. Naver Japan has also published the more popular comics as standalone applications |
|
Kstyle |
Korean entertainment news magazine capitalising on the success of Korean pop music in particular in Japan. It also has some coverage of other hallyu content such as Korean dramas |
|
LINE List |
Seems to be similar to KakaoGroup or the circles functionality in Google+. It pulls in contacts across social networks including LINE, KakaoTalk and Facebook |
Microsoft has a hodge podge of services in a wide variety of areas. Research, gaming, productivity and enterprise apps all make up a distinctive app constellation.
| Product name |
What it does |
| XBox XBox One SmartGlass |
A companion application to the game console: it acts as a remote control for the media play side of the console and facilitates off-console social interaction with game mates |
| OneDrive |
The cloud storage service formerly known as Sky Drive, the application comes in both consumer and business versions. |
| Photosynth |
An application that creates panoramic views from a series of pictures that are stitched together. It also allows for these pictures to be shared with others online |
| Microsoft Office Mobile |
The traditional office suite of Word, PowerPoint and Excel for mobile devices. An Office 365 subscription is required |
| OWA for iPhone |
Native application version of Outlook Web Access that requires an Office 365 subscription |
| Microsoft OneNote |
Native application version of Microsoft OneNote, available as a free standalone application |
| Microsoft Remote Desktop |
Connect to and work on a remote Windows PC |
| bing search |
Native application with a number of bing services including bookmarks, maps and the search engine |
| Lync for iPhone |
Available in 2010 and 2013 editions Lync allows in-enterprise OTT messaging and web conferencing. Requires a licence for a Lync server |
| Office 365 admin |
Manage functions such as setting up a new email account from an iPhone |
| Xbox Music |
Spotify-style streaming application |
| Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint for iPad |
Microsoft separates out these apps on the iPad so each one has to be downloaded separately rather than getting one Office app bundle. An Office 365 subscription is required |
| Bing get me there |
Bing maps application specifically for London that incorporates live data on the Tube from TfL |
| SharePoint Newsfeed |
A newsreader specifically designed for company SharePoint sites |
| Microsoft Dynamics CRM for iPhone |
Native application for Microsoft’s CRM application |
| Microsoft Dynamics CRM for iPhone and Dynamics AX |
Native application for Microsoft’s CRM application. Dynamics AX allows for expenses to be filed and time sheets to be completed |
| HealthVault |
Patient access to their own and their families health records |
| My Apps |
Single sign-on to Azure cloud applications |
| Windows Intune Company Store |
Enterprise mobile and table app store |
| Socl |
Somewhere between Tumblr and Behance as visual content driven social networks |
| Microsoft Tech Companion for iPhone |
News application for Microsoft developers and certified professionals |
| RMS Sharing |
Allows the user to see rights restricted content when used with an Office 365 licence |
Naver: LINE’s Korean parent is a large online media in its own right. Naver powers the majority of searches in Korea and has prominent blogging and mapping platforms. Naver has an app constellation that permeates the consumer and work internet from cartoons to social media and productivity that rivals Google in breadth of services.
| Name |
English equivalent |
What it does |
|
NAVER |
Native app version of the famous Korean search engine and web portal. It is particularly interesting the way Naver collates stories of interest to the reader. Koreans can subscribe to areas of interest and have the content delivered to them |
| 네이버 지도 |
NAVER Maps |
Similar to Google Maps; the key differences being the focus on Korea and access to real time transport data. Naver also looks to cater to cyclists in major cities more than Google does with its mapping application |
|
me2day |
A social network / blogging platform |
| 네이버 웹툰 |
NAVER Webtoons |
Web comic reader application |
| 네이버 블로그 |
NAVER Blog |
Mobile app that allows blog management and creation of posts on Korea’s most popular blogging platform. Blogs in Korea are bigger than in the UK by a considerable margin |
| 네이버사전 |
NAVER Dictionary |
Korean language dictionary and also Korean to 16 other languages dictionary to aid in foreign language usage |
| 네이버 북스 |
NAVER Books |
Korean answer to the Amazon Kindle app |
| 네이버 메일 |
NAVER Mail |
Dedicated email client for the Naver Mail service. Special features include messenger style stickers and deep integration with NDrive cloud storage for file transfers |
| 네이버 뮤직 |
NAVER Music |
A Spotify-esque music client with some special features. It can play your own MP3s directly from the NDrive cloud storage service and synchs with whatever content you have bought on your PC without having to side load the content with a cable |
|
NAVER Camera |
Camera application that allows in-app editing of pictures and automatic synching to the NDrive cloud service |
| 네이버 웍스 캘린더 |
NAVER Works Calendar |
Enterprise version of Naver Calendar which supports multiple languages and time zones |
| 네이버 웍스 드라이브 |
NAVER Works Drive |
Enterprise version of Naver cloud storage service, which seems to operate similar to YouSendIt |
| 네이버 웍스 메일 |
NAVER Works Mail |
Enterprise version of Naver email service with a dedicated client |
| 네이버 웍스 주소록 |
NAVER Works Contacts |
Enterprise version of Naver address book with a dedicated client |
| 그린팩토리 |
NHN greenfactory |
NAVER corporate group mobile app with some intranet and stored currency functionality for employees |
| 네이버 글로벌회화 영중일 |
NAVER Global Phrase Book (plus paid for version as well) |
Phrase book supporting English, Chinese and Japanese for Korean speakers |
| 네이버포스트 – 신개념 모바일 스토리북 |
NAVER Post-New Concept Mobile Story Book |
Encourages users to write stories optimised for mobile usage. It allows the stories to be shared across LINE and KakaoTalk and see where connections are on NAVER Maps in a similar kind of way to Google Latitude or Foursquare’s Swarm |
| 네이버 지식iN |
NAVER Knowledge iN |
Mobile client that provides a way to ask and answer questions in a Yahoo! Answers type of service |
| 쥬니어 네이버 |
NAVER Junior Naver |
Mobile app that provides a Yahooligans! type experience including games and video content |
| 쥬니어 네이버 |
NAVER Calendar |
Dedicated calendar application based on NAVER’s consumer-orientated calendar service |
| 네이버 중한사전 |
NAVER Chinese-Korean Dictionary |
The name tells you everything you need to know |
| 네이버 메모 |
NAVER Memo |
Similar to the Notes functionality that is a core part of iCloud, on the Mac and as part of iOS |
| 네이버 TV |
NAVER TV |
Streaming TV and movies application |
| 네이버 N드라이브 |
NAVER N Drive |
Mobile application providing cloud storage access, the smart thing with NDrive is the deep integration with other NAVER services like NAVER Music |
| 네이버 주소록 |
NAVER Contacts |
Contact book app service similar to Apple’s address book app which manifests on iCloud and in system default apps in iOS and OSX |
Netease is a Chinese online media company most associated with online gaming. It’s 163.com forum is enormously influential for technology loving Chinese. It’s app constellation is focused on knowledge and education.
| Name |
English equivalent |
What it does |
| 网易新闻 |
NetEase News |
A news client that pulls from a wide range of content from sports to shopping and everything in between |
| 有道 词典 本地 增强 版 |
Youdao Dictionary Professional Edition |
Chinese English dictionary with an installed user base over 150 million. The app won a prize in 2011 from Apple for the app. The app integrates with Tencent’s messenger service QQ |
| 网易公开课 |
NetEase Open Class |
Chinese English dictionary with an installed user base over 150 million. The app won a prize in 2011 from Apple for the app. The app integrates with Tencent’s messenger service QQ |
| 网易云阅读-杂志新闻书籍 |
NetEase cloud reading – Magazine News Books |
Analogous to the Kindle app with 100,000+ books, 3000+ top magazine, ‘massive’ internet information and an ‘exquisite’ picture album. The app also allows the user to subscribe to friends microblogging, blog, QQ space and other social platforms |
| 网易应用中心 |
Netease Application Center |
Focuses mostly on games |
| 有道翻译官 |
Youdao Translator |
Translates eight languages into Chinese, you can use the camera to ‘read’ foreign text |
| 网易轻博客 |
LOFTER |
Mobile client for a light blogging platform more like Dayre.me than Tumblr |
| 网易轻博客 |
NetEase fashion magazine |
An e-magazine that allow you to purchase new editions in-application from with Chinese, Hong Kong, Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, British and American fashion magazines |
| 网易博客 |
NetEase blog |
Mobile application to create and publish blog posts on the Netease platform |
| 网易将军令 |
NetEase General Order |
A two-factor authentication app similar to an RSA tag |
| 饭饭 |
Jenna |
A personalised restaurant and dish recommendation service |
| 游戏精灵-你的游戏伴侣 |
Game Wizard |
A mobile gaming magazine with reviews, tips and hacks |
| 网易房产榜- 看网易房产榜,知楼市冷暖 |
NetEase property list |
Allows the user to see property sales or rental prices as well as background information on the area in terms of the amenities in the locality |
| 网易即时通2013 |
Netease Messenger 2013 |
A self-described ‘enterprise class’ instant messenger platform that supports Windows, Mac and iOS |
|
Vemento |
Allows you to shoot one-second videos similar to Vine, but stitches them together into a bigger, longer film. It has a very flat design and colour scheme that mirrors iOS7 |
| 口袋篮球 |
Pocket Basketball |
CBA basketball news, statistics, player profiles and game schedules |
| 网易印像拍 |
NetEase Photo Album |
It is like Istagram and iPhoto blended into one an includes printing services |
|
iEase Translator Pro |
Youdao Translator version complete with OCR technology designed for English speakers |
| 惠惠折扣日报—网易出品电商折扣精选（惠惠购物助手手机版） |
Huihui discount Daily |
Mobile coupon / group buying application |
| 网易联系人助手 |
NetEase Contact Assistant |
Syncing contacts from NetEase mail in a simple address book type application |
| 网易家居杂志 易品家 |
EaseHome |
Home and lifestyle mobile magazine compiled from the home section of the NetEase website |
| 网易汽车 |
NetEase Car News |
Car mobile magazine compiled from the autos section of the NetEase website |
| 网易邮箱- 网易官方手机邮箱 |
NetEase official mobile email |
Dedicated email client |
| 网易电视指南-看直播,刷微博 |
NetEase TV Guide |
Live mobile TV programming |
| 网易电视指南-看直播,刷微博 |
iStyle |
Fashion-orientated community mobile app |
| 网易微博(官方) |
NetEase Weibo client |
Micro-blogging platform in the shadow of Tencent and Sino versions of Weibo |
| 花田-免费聊天，交友，婚恋 |
Hanada |
A free dating community that includes chat functionality |
| 网易云相册- 相片备份专家 |
NetEase cloud album |
Cloud photo album |
Tencent has two of the dominant social platforms in China: QQ and WeChat. It is also big in online games publishing and e-commerce. QQ and WeChat both have their own app constellation – because of this dual brand strategy Tencent has the largest Chinese ecosystem of all the big internet companies.
| Name |
English equivalent |
What it does |
| 微生活POS |
Micro Life POS |
Mobile point of sale terminal application |
| 腾讯彩票 |
Tencent Lottery |
Lottery news including winning numbers |
| 微客多门店版 |
Tencent Shopping Guide |
help traditional retailers store employees to use mobile phones to provide customers with a shopping guide |
| 搜搜问问 |
SoSo Ask |
a knowledge search type mobile application think Yahoo! Answers meets Quora and has integration with Tencent Weibo |
| Goal精彩中超 |
Goal! |
Latest match results, player details and football league positions from the CSL (Chinese Soccer League) |
| 看房 |
Showings |
Mobile application to aid Chinese house hunters covering most of the major cities in China |
| QQ团购 |
QQ Buy |
Closely linked to QQ messenger allows for shopping and use of discount coupons |
| 企业QQ |
QQ Enterprise version |
Business version of QQ instant messenger |
| QQ便民 |
QQ convenience |
Payment handling app covering pre-paid cards, monthly subscriptions and virtual currency balance – presumably for their games portfolio as well as real-world payments |
| 腾讯路宝 |
Tencent Lob |
Google Maps-like turn-by-turn directions with Waze-like traffic information |
| 腾讯路宝 |
QQ watch the show |
Mobile application with Ticketmaster-type features |
| QQ网购 |
QQ Online Shopping |
Mobile application of a desktop online shopping site, think an online shopping mall, though much less of an audience than Tmall |
| 腾讯微漫 |
Tencent Micro-Comic |
Mobile comic reading platform, with free to read content including Naruto and Dragonball Z |
| 腾讯充值 |
Tencent Recharge |
Especially designed to manage a Q coin virtual currency account used in paying for games and monthly subscription services |
|
Ps Play |
Allows images from PhotoShop to be transferred easily to a phone and friends, can do a screen cast of how an effect was done as a walkthrough. Probably handy for sharing memes |
|
Storycam for WeChat |
A kind of Instagram companion app for the WeChat OTT messenger – mixes photo frame type effects with an ability to tell people more about the picture |
| 创意相机 |
Creative Camera |
Allows users to edit pictures often for comedic value or giving them a cute look and then share via the QQ messenger service |
|
wyFire |
Easy sharing of pictures over a local network: wi-fi connected device to wi-fi connected device |
|
wyFire |
Easy sharing of pictures over a local network: wi-fi connected device to wi-fi connected device |
| 腾讯爱看 |
Tencent Watch |
Summarizes and presents content so that the reader no longer ‘reads’ it but watches it |
| QQ美食 |
QQ Cuisine |
It has location based elements similar to Foursquare and discount coupon offers and ability to share location on Tencent Weibo |
| QQ财付通（腾讯出品 |
QQ Tenpay |
PayPal like peer to peer payments attached to a QQ messenger ID |
|
Pitu |
Picture beautification – to make women’s skin look younger or better |
| 自选股 |
Zishuagu |
Real time stock price information from Shanghai, Hong Kong and US stock markets |
| QQ提醒 |
QQ alert |
An alarm clock with lost of different settings and alerts |
| 腾讯看比赛 |
Tencent watch the game |
Sports news from Chinese and international leagues |
| SOSO慧眼 |
SOSO Eye |
Price comparison application, it scans bar codes and QRCodes but also uses image recognition to find matching book covers etc |
| QQ电影票 |
QQ Movie |
Mobile cinema ticket booking app |
|
One Browser |
Alternative to the built in phone web browser for international audiences |
|
QQ Browser |
Alternative to the built in phone web browser for Chinese, Taiwanese and international audiences |
| 腾讯地图 |
Tencent Map |
Car and public transport navigation with turn-by-turn directions |
| 腾讯朋友 |
Tencent friend |
China’s first ‘real name’ social network rather like Facebook in that respect |
|
Qpik |
International version of picture beautification app Pitu |
|
WeChat Voice |
Companion app to WeChat. Speak into the app, pick an avatar which has an animated mouth that lip-synches the message and send to contacts |
| 微视-8秒短视频分享 |
Microscopic |
Vine-like service that shoots 8-second videos |
| QQ阅读 |
QQ Reading |
Multi-format e-book reader supporting formats like epub and PDF |
| QQ通讯录-最快最智能的通讯录 |
QQ Contacts |
An address book based around the QQ messaging eco-system |
| QQ安全中心 |
QQ Security Centre |
Helps with securing details, binding the phone identity to a particular QQ account, protects game settings and other |
|
My Cam |
Camera application that has HDR capabilities and Instagram-type filters |
| 腾讯手机管家（原QQ手机管家 |
Tencent mobile butler |
A utility app which helps enhance Wi-Fi security, measure download speed and other features |
|
We Sync |
iCloud-like back-up of address book, it helps users to move from an old phone to their new phone. It also allows the address book to be easily erased from a phone. It seems to be aimed at an international audience |
| QQ邮箱 |
QQ Mailbox |
Dedicated email client similar to Gmail |
|
QQ |
Instant messaging client that comes in both domestic market and international versions |
| 腾讯微云 |
Weiyun |
Dropbox-like cloud service |
|
Qzone |
A Facebook-like social network allowing check-ins, status, video sharing, picture sharing |
| 腾讯新闻 |
Tencent News |
A news reader application – think mobile portal as app |
| 微信 |
WeChat / Weixin |
One of the world’s leading OTT messenger made in both domestic and international versions. It has features (some of which where borrowed from QQ) and is nipping at the heels of Whatsapp in a number of markets |
More wireless related posts here.
More information
Feature Friday: Checking In | A VC
App Constellations | A VC
