WeChat opens WiFi access

We learned from WeChat that its "WeChat WiFi" application entrance is now officially open to the public.

At the end of January this year, WeChat WiFi had already started external testing. Now it is fully open to the public. More merchants will be able to provide WeChat users with convenient WiFi experience and accurate scene services through this function. Offline physical merchants who have opened WeChat certified public accounts can also apply through the WeChat public platform.

After merchants connect to WeChat WiFi, users no longer need to enter WiFi account and password, and can quickly access the Internet by scanning WeChat QR code, etc. At the same time, merchants can also use this to push activity information, member discounts and other value-added services to users.

WeChat said that it wants to enable merchants to achieve low-threshold, low-cost self-service access in the use of "WeChat WiFi". Merchants can use existing equipment or purchase equipment on the market that has been connected to the WeChat WiFi protocol to achieve self-service configuration access. According to the types and development and operation capabilities of different merchants, "WeChat WiFi" provides different merchant homepage templates such as basic, advanced, and customized, so that merchants can flexibly choose access according to their own needs. They can also connect with the WeChat system to enjoy other functions such as WeChat payment and coupons.

Previously, Tencent CEO Ma Huateng said in an interview that he hopes to connect offline local life services and public services through WeChat scanning and shaking. In the second half of last year, Tencent also showed goodwill to many commercial WiFi startup teams and established the Tencent WiFi Alliance. Industry analysts believe that merchant WiFi is aimed at opening up WeChat's O2O "last kilometer" based on location-based services (LBS), providing necessary conditions for the development of many imaginative businesses such as WeChat payment, merchant membership management, and WeChat card wallets.