5G messaging has started commercial trials. Can it change the current instant messaging landscape? Will it replace WeChat?

Since the release of the "5G Message White Paper" in April last year, the three major domestic operators have been gearing up for the launch of 5G messages for a long time. Will 5G messages, known as a "killer" application, become a new way for people to socialize, entertain, and live in the future? Will it shake WeChat's position in the social field?

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China Mobile and China Telecom have also made relevant moves in 5G messaging. It is reported that China Telecom has revealed that it will keep pace with China Unicom and plans to launch 5G messaging in due course in the fourth quarter of this year. China Mobile has also released SMS Mini Program 2.0 as a supplementary solution for 5G messaging to achieve full terminal coverage.

By then, the 5G messaging products of the three major operators will arrive at the same time. What kind of waves will the market create?

What is 5G messaging?

5G messaging is a basic communication service based on the GSMA unified standard in the 5G era and one of the fastest-growing ecological applications for 5G commercial use. 5G messaging is an upgrade of the SMS service and a basic telecommunications service of operators. It realizes a leap in service experience based on IP technology, supports more media formats and has richer forms of expression.

Based on the native short messaging service of smart terminals, China Unicom has built a new 5G messaging service and information service portal, and launched 5G messaging services for industries and individual customers, supporting real-time dynamic interaction between individuals and individuals, and between enterprises and individuals.

It is reported that China Unicom's 5G messages have the following four characteristics: first, no downloading required, that is, using the original SMS entrance; second, interactive services, that is, intelligent services and free communication; third, rich media, that is, full support for pictures, videos, positioning, etc.; fourth, information security, that is, based on real-name authentication, data is safe and reliable.

Will 5G messaging replace WeChat?

Currently, more than 1 billion people use WeChat every day. WeChat has also formed a complete ecological environment with this huge user base. Users can shop for food, clothing, housing, transportation and other things on WeChat. In particular, as the current Internet environment is changing with each passing day, WeChat is free from the user's perspective and only consumes some data traffic. Users have already formed the habit of using WeChat.

At present, the application of 5G messages is constantly expanding, and more and more industries and enterprises are joining in. In December last year, Bank of China and China Unicom launched a pilot platform for financial applications based on 5G messages, and took the lead in launching the first batch of "5G Message Volunteers" pilot projects in Hainan.

In September this year, the "Dian E Bao" Chatbot ID (chatbot identity) independently developed by State Grid Huitong Jincai was officially launched on China Mobile's 5G industry messaging platform. State Grid Huitong Jincai has now realized the functions of paying electricity bills, issuing invoices, and checking points in the "Dian E Bao" 5G message.

In addition, 5G message industry applications such as Ctrip, China Search, China Construction Bank, Youth Digest, Shenzhen Airlines, and Nanshan Government Services have also been released one after another.

It is reported that China Unicom has currently connected with dozens of CSPs (Chatbot Service Providers), and will initially provide application scenarios in the fields of smart finance, smart supermarkets, smart logistics, smart government affairs, and smart travel.

As a mobile Internet service that integrates social networking, life services, shopping, entertainment and other applications in the future, is it possible for 5G messaging to replace the status of platforms such as WeChat?

Xiang Ligang expressed cautious optimism: "The development of 5G messaging is still difficult. The difficulty lies in the mutual support between operators, between operators and service providers, and between operators and mobile phone manufacturers. Everyone needs to participate and coordinate well with each other, which is very difficult. Of course, if it can be done well, it will indeed pose a certain threat to WeChat."

Ma Jihua said that simple 5G new messages will not replace WeChat, but if operators unite, they will inevitably get rid of the fate of dumb pipes, weaken WeChat's "ability to connect everything", and at the same time allow more small and medium-sized enterprises to get rid of the control of WeChat traffic, which will gradually and fundamentally change the WeChat ecosystem.

Practitioners in the information technology industry said that 5G messaging service provides users with a new choice. An ecological environment in which 5G messaging service, WeChat public accounts and mini-programs, and various apps work together and compete can bring a richer and fairer experience to mobile Internet.

Looking back, although 5G messages are an upgraded version of SMS, as a new product, survival is the most important thing, and the fundamental basis of survival is to be supported by profits. If it is used commercially in the future, charging will scare away users. How can it make a profit without charging? If it charges companies, it may dissuade them from using the service. In addition, in the eyes of companies, what 5G messages can do may not be something WeChat cannot do.

Therefore, in addition to building an ecosystem and service scenarios, how to generate revenue is also a problem that 5G messaging must face and explore. In this comparison, although 5G messaging has its advantages over the current WeChat, it is still a big question mark as to whether it can compete with the latter in the instant messaging market or even replace it.