China's most popular messenger, with more than 1.1 billion
users, will be embedded in new car models coming to the market
later this year, the two companies said at the annual Smart
China Expo in Chongqing.
While the mobile app offers services such as payment and
entertainment, the car version will have limited functions based
on voice control and a button on the wheel, allowing the driver
to send or receive messages and make calls while driving, and
integrate Tencent Map's navigation service, Tencent said.
Tencent, which is trying to transform itself from a
consumer-oriented social and gaming firm to an enterprise
service provider, said in a statement it had secured partnership
agreements with 21 automakers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and
Audi to roll out solutions for connected cars on 45 models.
China's state-run news agency Xinhua said on Monday 530 deals
worth 817 billion yuan ($115.2 billion) had been signed at the
Smart China Expo.
(Reporting by Sijia Jiang; Additional reporting by Yilei Sun in
SHANGHAI; Editing by Dale Hudson)
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