Tencent Chinese company Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tencent Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tencent Also known as: Tencent Holdings Ltd. Written by Frannie Comstock Frannie Comstock is a writer based in Chicago. Frannie Comstock Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 5, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Tencent, Internet and technology-oriented holding company based in Shenzhen, China, and best known for its messaging application WeChat. Through in-house subsidiaries and external investments, the company holds stakes in a variety of industries, including entertainment, financial technology, communications, and online advertising. Tencent was formed in 1998 by Chinese entrepreneur Ma Huateng (also known as Pony Ma) and four of his friends. The following year, Tencent launched OICQ, a free instant messaging service that was later renamed QQ. Although QQ accumulated one million users in its first year of operation, the company was not profitable until 2001. Tencent’s most prominent offerings ...(100 of 498 words)

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