Tencent, which has built its QQ instant messaging service into one of China's leading internet companies, recently launched a QQ-branded credit card together with China UnionPay (CUP) and Industrial Bank. Back in 2005, Tencent launched a QQ-branded debit card, but this marks its first foray into credit cards.
QQ users can apply for this card with through their existing QQ account on it or get a new account when applying for the card. The card enables automatic online payment for a variety of products and services and Tencent and other online merchants--no extra trips to the bank needed to "activate" online payment. As might be expected, many Tencent products can be bought at a discount with the card. Users can pay off their bills with any UnionPay bank card online--again, no trips to the bank needed.
Given QQ's relatively young user base, pushing a QQ-themed credit card provides more evidence that the battle for new credit card users is increasingly focused on young users. Just how effective it will be in getting QQ's hundreds of millions of users into the habit of using a credit card is another question.
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