Microsoft Finally Adding Weibo Support to Chinese Windows Phone Devices

One of the obstacles standing in the face of Windows phones’ success in China has been the fact that the social features in the phone are completely redundant/non-existing. One of the coolest things about windows phone is the Me/People hub which has Facebook and twitter packed in with quick access to contact’s profiles and notifications; however since in China both Facebook and Twitter are blocked those features were removed; effectively destroying the social awesomeness of Windows phone.

However it seems that Microsoft are testing support for Sina Weibo (China’s equivalent of Twitter with over 300 Million users) int he people/Me hubs/ eventually you should get the same functionality available for twitter and Facebook  (posting updates, uploading images, linking contacts etc.)

What I find interesting though is the fact that users in China are adopting Windows Phone before these features are even ready; meaning they see something in it other than the social networking (and they’re probably not in it for the apps either). I personally can’t imagine buying a phone that doesn’t have a full baked social integration in it after using the Lumias; but on the other hand I don’t know what other competing platforms are providing in China? Does Apple have Weibo support in iOS 6 rather than FB & twitter?

Via

Category: Lumia, Nokia, Windows Phone