[dheera]

My biggest gripe about WeChat is that it doesn't support multiple logins. It's tied down to 1 mobile device and there is no desktop or web-based client that can login using a simple username and password. I switch devices very often and very much prefer that information flow with me as I switch from place to place, device to device, transparent to others around me, and not require me be attached to a single piece of hardware. This is something that Facebook chat does very well. Unfortunately, my entire social circle uses WeChat so I don't exactly have a choice.

[vinceyuan]

It works as designed. WeChat is focusing on mobile phones. Everyone has a phone and it's always with him/her. PC and tablets become the extensions of the phone. There are WeChat clients for PC and Mac. But you still need the phone to login. It always reminds you that WeChat is a mobile app.

[dheera]

"Everyone has a phone and it's always with him/her"

Except me. That's the point. I would much prefer it offer a protocol and let me choose how I wish to use that said protocol. Some people walk around with 1 mobile phone. I have several mobile phones I use at different times and places. Most services permit multiple logins and seamlessly display all information on all devices. Also, at times when I have my computer around, I want my computer to BE my phone, so that everything is consolidated. It's quite ridiculous that I have to peck at a phone when I have a laptop staring at my face. Facebook lets me just use that laptop to continue conversations seamlessly, without even having to carry my phone, and without needing to re-login to anything. And I can move from room to room several dozen times a day, having all conversations simultaneously open in all of my rooms. Information flows with me.

Unfortunately, because WeChat wants to dictate how they think I should use technology, I don't really have a choice but to create separate WeChat accounts on every device, launch Android emulators on PCs, and create a chatroom for every contact I have, inviting all of my other accounts. It's a super-cumbersome way to use technology but they don't offer me a choice.