[xbeta]

It really depends on your use cases. WeChat fits well in China as it is building a product exactly adding value for China culture and lifestyle there.

You can make utilities payment via WeChat, but I would much prefer to have a platform automate this for me and not part of an IM.

The West has been following the UNIX philosophy of doing 1 thing and does it very well.

Perhaps WeChat is not just an app, but an eco-system. As for UX on strictly IM functionality, I would prefer WhatsApp, FB Messenger, Telegram etc as it is much "lean" and lightweight to use.

I personally don't think WeChat can be successfully replicate their model to everywhere in the world.

However, a lesson to learn for everyone (including WeChat), build local product. Builds product that fits everyone's need accommodating their culture and lifestyle.

[eratins]

Is it really a "Western"-thing or more of a Silicon Valley thing?

I really think Google could have created the ultimate chat app... but I guess they are "creating their own competition."

[seanmcdirmid]

It's really a western thing. Chinese like crowded pages with lots of functionality, they must feel very 热闹!!! The west prefers more distribution of functionality with simplicity so doing one thing is much more appealing to us.

[eratins]

But when I was visiting Italy and Greece, I noticed the sites most people viewed were also very crowded and busy.

[seanmcdirmid]

Yes but not by choice. Besides, I've been to both Rome and Athens and didn't find either to be oarcicularly crowded compared to a Chinese tourist place.