Chinese location-based mobile messaging app Momo announced that it had had 50 million registered users from 131 countries, with more than 700 thousand chat groups.

Debuted two years ago, it reached 10 million milestone one year later. It got traction as a location-based flirting app. But later Momo found that it was difficult to have users stay long on the platform. Recently it began telling media and users that Momo wasn’t just a tool for talking to strangers nearby but also for making long-time friends and keeping in touch with them. Chat group and some other features were created that could have users come back. Now the chat groups that gather people of the same interests is much-welcomed.

Monetizing user base is another issue with Momo. It rolled out some paid services such as sticker-style emoticons and membership subscriptions with the latest version recently.

Chelsea Dong

She reads, travels, photographs and writes, with interests in chronicling China tech scene and interpreting how technology disrupts the way people live.